Monday, May 30, 2011

New flower bed and more flowers added!

We put in a new flower bed yesterday. Hubby brought home a bunch of really awesome new plants.

DSC00444

My hubby, doing all the hard work for me… Thanks babe.

DSC00449

This is called a Persian Shield… very awesome. Should be about 4 foot tall by next spring and an extremely hardy plant that can stand below freezing temperatures of –30 degrees!

DSC00446

Hibiscus shrub that we haven’t decided to put in the ground yet. the hubby was told it would die and not come back the following year but he may have been misinformed, as I’ve seen a few in this area that were in fact in the ground and quite large. Hoping if any of you southerners (Louisiana, Texas, Ark, Miss) may be able to tell me about your experiences growing Hibiscus scrubs.

DSC00452

Heirloom cherry tomatoes.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

The gate looks really good, but I think we need a fence..

DSC00428

Yep…. that’s in my front yard!! A gate….. just a gate….. with no fence…yep.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Fresh picked produce…. with toddler teeth marks

This morning my son and I went to pick our first tomato of the year along with a few banana peppers, a couple of bell peppers, and a handful of strawberries. I displayed all of it in a large bamboo bowl as I was very proud, only to pass by a few minutes later and notice it all spread across the kitchen table. As I picked up the pieces I noticed each and every one had a few little nibble marks.

Oh Jaxon had taken a few pieces with him in the living room and was enjoying his little feast. All the strawberries and a banana pepper. *Sigh* At least he had a healthy snack and he likes banana peppers. That’s a plus.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Preparation for midnight bottle feedings

No one ever gave me a heads up on how chaotic a midnight feeding could be if you weren’t properly prepared. Oh I remember those first couple of nights searching desperately for the right nipple and trying to measure out formula with my eyes so heavy I could barely keep them open. After Jaxon’s second night home, I knew that I was going to need some organization and preparation for midnight feedings, as there were going to be many many more to come.
My best advice is to have everything measured and prepared. Munchkin makes this great little formula dispensers, that holds three different feeding per container. You simply fill it up with the desired amount of powdered formula and when you get ready to use, you just turn the top to the section you want to use, open the top, and add to the bottle. I also labeled the two different dispensers I had, as one had enough powder for a 5 ounce bottle and one had powder for a six ounce bottle.
Make sure you keep plenty of extra bottles with the desired amount of water already added so that everything is ready to go. Have nipples and caps all matched up and assembled especially if you are using Dr. Browns bottles with 50 different pieces. Oh how frustrating that is trying to assemble a Dr. Browns bottle at 1:30 a.m.   Yes I have been there.

Thank you my 101 followers

It means alot to me that you all take time to stop by my blog and read what I have to say. I appricate the comments and all the new friends I have made in these few short months blogging. My goal for the next few weeks will be to connect with you all more and focus on catching up with your blogs and my reading.
Hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

RecycleBank

I just found this website and just love it! It gives tons of tips on ways to go green and rewards for going green. Sign up and take the dove poll to see how much you know about going green and get points.

The dog whisperer

Ha ha… yeah. This is what my mom and dad called me as a child. I have always had a way with animals and I , more than anything, wanted to grow up to be a veterinarian. I did the whole 4-H thing in middle school and high school, and won lots of ribbons (2 blue).

Growing up in the country we had every possible domestic animal that you can find on a farm. We raised hogs, potbelly pigs, had 2 calves, a horse, cats, dogs, fish, quail, rabbits, and pigeons and then I had so very exotic pets too. I had a pet squirrel for 13 years, hermit crabs, bearded dragons, water dragon, cockatiels, cockatoos, parakeets, frogs, tad poles, turtles, snakes, iguanas. (We have had them ALL). My favorite pet out of all of these was a rat terrier, named Odie Ray. I got him right before my 13th birthday and that dog went every where with me. I had him house broke in 3 days and he knew a vast array of tricks. Sitting, rolling over and talking were some of the first tricks I taught him but as the months went on, it just amazed me how smart he was and how many tricks he could learn.

Well, when I moved out of my parents house at 18, I moved into an apartment and Odie Ray couldn’t go with me. Mainly because my mom and dad were also very attached to him. So, I went on about my life and Odie lived with my parents. I missed him so much. When I went to visit my parents Odie would be so happy to see me, which it hurt my heart because I couldn’t take him with me.

Last weekend I got a call from my mom. Odie had died. He would have be 12 years old this August 14th. I had only been out to my moms house once in the last 8 months and when I saw him (about 5 months ago) I could tell he had lost some weight and was very gray. He had gotten so old. He had arthritis in his back legs and began having trouble seeing.

I’m not even going to explain how he died as I will probably start bawling. It was his time as he was having A LOT of health problems. Oh how I miss him and am so mad at myself for not going to see him recently. It amazes me that animals can really become a part of the family and how much they can be missed when they are gone.

I got a Blue Heeler puppy  about 7 months ago right after my second son was born. He is kind of wandered up to our house and was so sweet that I just had to keep him. He is a great dog and so good with my kids but he will never take the place of Odie Ray.

Last night after my hubby got home, he took Jaxon for a ride on the tractor and of course Blue had to go for his evening run through the field and chase the horses. After about a 30 minute run my husband was heading back through the field and Blue (not at all paying attention to what he was doing) run underneath the tractor. He was hit by the front tire and my hubby immediately shut down the tractor as the bush hog on the back was still turning and because of syntrifical force it doesn’t stop turning until the tractor stops completely. He was almost ran over by the bush hog. It would have killed him. Kasey carried him in to me and I looked him over (checking for broken bones) thank goodness there are none. I stayed up with him most the night making sure he didn’t start having seizures, or peeing blood or having trouble breathing.

We went early this morning to the vet to have them look him over and he is fine. I am so thankful he’s ok. I don’t know what I would do if I lost to dogs this week.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Signs, symptoms, and reasons: Middle ear infections in infants

Otitis media, also known as middle ear infection is commonly seen in infants and toddlers and often times goes unnoticed by parents until serve symptoms occur. In infants, the eustachian tubes which connect the ear drum to the nasopharynx and equalizes the pressure in the ear drum with that of the outside atmosphere is much shorter and smaller and can make it much easier for germs, bacteria, and viruses to invade the middle ear and ear drum.

Although ear infections aren’t contagious, other things that cause them are such as colds and the flu. Colds and others upper respiratory infections can cause the eustachian tubes also known as the auditory tubes to become inflamed and infected. If eustachitis occurs it causes fluid to build up behind the ear drum (serous otitis media), which causes the middle ear infection (acute otitis media).

Water that accumulates in the ear from swimming or baths can also cause an infection if left in the ear. Always dry out your baby’s ears after he has been in water. Use caution when cleaning and never stick anything in the ear canal. Only dry the outer ear where the water accumulates.

Cigarette smoke can also cause the eustachian tubes to become inflamed, making it harder for pressure to be equalized and may cause fluid to build up behind the ear drum. Always keep your child away from smokers and smoke of any kind. Child with allergies should try to stay away from pollen and outside dust because this can also cause problems with the ear drums and eustachian tubes

Chronic ear infections that recur again and again can cause serious damage to the ear drum and in some cases hearing loss. Children and adults with chronic ear infections may need surgery to repair damaged parts of the eardrum known as tympanoplasty or have damaged tissue on the ear drum removed to improve hearing also known as tympanectomy.

If any fluid has built up behind the ear drum and cannot drain by itself, a surgery may need to be performed to remove the built up fluid. A tiny puncture into the tympanic member (ear drum) will be made with a needle and tympanostomy tubes may be inserted into the ear drum to provide ongoing drainage of fluid to relieve pressure on the ear drum. This is the most common procedure performed on young children and is what is meant when “tubes” are placed in the ears.

There are different types of tubes that can be placed, some that fall out on their own after six months to two years and then the tiny hole in the ear drum will heal. In some cases larger tubes are needed and will have to be surgical removed after the child is clear of ear infections, the fluid is completely gone, and the ear drum has had time to heal.

It may be harder to tell if your baby has an ear infection since they have not yet learned to pull on their ears when they hurt. Sometimes an ear infection isn’t detected by parents until serious symptoms occur such as a high fever or drainage from the ear. If you notice your child showing any sign of discomfort when cleaning the outer ear, or behind the ear, take your child to the doctor. Ear infections can quickly become very serious.

Prescription antibiotics are usually given for five to ten days to unsure that the infection is gone. A shot of antibiotics may be given for serve infections. Ear drops can also be prescribed to help with the ear pain.Over the counter pain reliever may also be administered to help with pain or fever. If a fever continues for more than 24 hours after starting antibiotics your child may need to return to the doctor to ensure that the infection hasn’t spread or become more serious than firstly expected. Anyways make sure that your child finishes all the antibiotics to make sure that the ear infection doesn’t return.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Why haven’t I learned?

Every time I get busy cleaning the house or taking care of the youngest, it seems my oldest son goes looking for something to get into! It still surprises me that he thinks he can so easily get away with stuff!! And that I always seem to leave something out!

It only takes me about a minute to change a diaper which is what I was doing went I noticed Jaxon was off somewhere being very quite. I quickly finished the diaper change and went looking for him. He was sitting quietly in his bedroom with his back to the door. As soon as I walked in the room, I could smell the strong aroma of toothpaste. I walked around him to the other side of the room to see what he had exactly.

He was feeling up his dump truck with the brand new tube of toothpaste. I asked him what he was doing and he quickly handed me the toothpaste with a big satisfied smile on his face. He had finished filling up the truck and had now picked up the toothbrush that he had hidden under his leg and began cleaning the truck.

What was he thinking? He really thought that he had done something special so I put him in the bathtub to finish cleaning his truck… now the toothpaste and everything that used to sit on my bathroom counter goes in the cabinet above the toilet. He’s 2 and a half!! Why haven’t I learned…

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Flowers from my garden

DSC00424DSC00423DSC00422DSC00416DSC00414

DSC00409DSC00418

The pink lily is my favorite. I actually planted those about three years ago, before my first son was born but this is the first year that they bloomed! I was so excited to finally see what they looked like. The white flower is from my tiny Gardenia bush. It’s only the size of a basketball but has produced a bunch of flowers.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

“Liking” product brand pages on Facebook

If you haven’t LIKED any of your favorite product brands on facebook, I just want to let you know that this is a great way a get access to printable coupons, sign up for contest, and of course, get FREE samples!!

Recently Tide did a 5 day give away at a different time each day on Facebook. After the info is posted on Facebook, the first 20,000 people to fill out request forms received coupons for different products and free product.

Many companies do giveaways on Friday, calling it “Freebie Friday”. Just a heads up tomorrow will be a perfect day to start watching for posts!! Last Friday, I ended up getting a coupon for a free 60 count Tide Stain Release pack, a coupon for a bottle of Suave body wash, and a Swiffer 360  starter kit!!

Great brands to LIKE that are always giving away free stuff:

Swiffer, Soy Joy, Tide, ICEE, Coffeemate, P & G,

It’s easy to find great brand’s pages, just do a search at the top of the Facebook page and check over each page to see if there are any upcoming giveaways!!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Join Gifts to Grow now and get 100 Free Points.

From knowing exactly when they want teddy to comforting them at 3am, the list of love is endless. Gifts to Grow gives parents the rewards they deserve, simply by buying Pampers diapers and wipes. Join now and get 100 Free Points.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Extreme Couponing

I have learned over the past six months that I can easily save 50% weekly on my grocery bill. From spending $100.00 – $160.00 to spending $50.00 – $80.00. You can check out all this tips on my couponing page.

Now, I’ve decided to try my hand at extreme couponing. The objective is to get every single item for free or only pay taxes. My first trip I got $19.00 worth of merchandise for $1.35. I went again today and got about $29.00 worth of merchandise for $4.04.

First, you have to find out all the local store’s coupon policies. They are all different, so you have to know if any double and triple on which day of the week. Find out if the store will accept 2 coupons on 1 item; say a online store coupon and a manufactures coupon. In my opinion the store that does this is the best one to go to, if you can get 2 coupons on 1 item. I recently found out that my local Target will allow me to use a manufactures coupon out of the Sunday paper and a printed coupon just for Target, this way, I can sometimes save $3-$5 on a single item.

You can sometimes find stores that will give you money back on an item. If say, your coupon was for $3.00 and the item was on sale for $1.50. If you find a store that gives you money back on the item you can put it towards your sale tax or toward another item. Some stores may only give you cash up to a certain amount and some many allow every cent to carry over and you can get cash back.

It is so important to know every single stores policies. I recently went to target and the cashier tried to tell me I had too many coupons and couldn’t use anymore on that transaction. I had to ask her to try it anyways because as many times as I have been in, I had never been told that. She tried the last 3 coupons on my most expensive items and they worked. Unfortunately, I think she wanted me to pay full price for those last 3 things. I would have had to void the last three items and paid for them separately.

Do some research to find out what is on sale that week. I’ve started checking Target’s website because there are tons of discontinued items and sale items that don’t end up in the weekly ad and they are at every store!

If your coupon does not specify the certain size of the product, it is best to buy the smallest or trial size so that the item will be free. Unless you can find a really good sale and the larger item would still be free.

Good luck fellow couponers!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Just a little update...

For the last few days I have been M.I.A. and haven't even posted anything. This isn't like me at all! I usually never go a day without at least picking up the computer and checking my blogger stats and what's going on, on voiceBoks. Anyways, since Friday, I have been going non-stop. Spent Firday running arrands and getting Mother's Day pictures taking. Spent Saturday grocery shopping and some late spring cleaning. We spent Mother's Day at the Bodcau Dam and then spent Monday taking Dylan back to the doctor. He now has laryngitis. Of course he does because they gave him amoxcillin!

Well anyways, I'm hoping today we can get back in our normal routine and try to get back on schedule with everything. Hope everyone has a great day!

Christin

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Activities for kids: Farmer’s market

As a child, this was an activity that my grandmother and I did every weekend during the summer months that it took place. Usually June – September local farmer’s markets began opening around the country. Farmers, 4-H members, homemakers, and even normal people like myself sell their produce, farm raised meats, plants, and really anything hand made or produced item.

Even as a child I learned so much about gardening, seasonal plants, herbs, and still use everything I learned to this day. I of course learned lots of great stuff from my grandparents, and dad but I still got to find out about things as a child that I knew nothing about.

Last year, was the first year that I took my son. At the time he was one and a half so he didn’t really understand what was going on, but he certainly enjoyed all the fresh fruits I bought. So far this year, I’ve taught him about the growing process, gardening care (his favorite because he gets to water garden!), and now he’s getting to see what grows on all the plants! Strawberries and the Tiny Sensation lilies where his favorites!

While you are sampling, it’s a great opportunity to ask questions about how they grow their produce, what they do differently than others, and where they items are grown. All the farmers and sellers are always happy to share their tips and of course their produce. Many offer pamphlets or  their instructions on how to grow high quality produce.

Let your child help you pick out a fruit or veggie and use it in a dish for dinner or desert. While you’re cooking you can teach your child about it! If you only serve your family organic fruits and veggies, don’t worry, everything must be grown without the aid of pesticides.

Fruits and veggies, aren’t the only thing sold at the farmer’s market! A wide variety of herbs and other plants are also sold. You can find out about which plants grow best where you live and basically anything you want to know about herbs. You can find out which herbs are best in what foods, how to grow your own herb garden, and even what can be grown during each growing season. This is where I found out I can have a summer herb garden and a winter herb garden and I no longer pay high prices for fresh herbs!! I can just walk outside and cut whatever I need for what I’m cooking that day. I also learned how to dry and freeze herbs that I harvest so I have them any time of the year.

The famer’s market is also a great place to get fresh, grade A beef, pork, chicken, and of course fresh yard eggs. All livestock is feed organic grains and feed and the meats are never frozen. Rather it is freshly slaughtered and and sold right after it is packaged. Although the meat is VERY expensive, it was the best steaks I’ve ever bought!! I’ve even seen beef jerk and boudin sold here. All grade A quality beef, fresh, and home-made!!

The farmer’s market is a wonderful place for your children and you, to learn and experience new things! It is also a great way to support local farmer’s! These people depend on this as a source of income and take pride in the quality of their products. When I purchase anything from here I know that I am feeding my family the best of the best in my area and I love the fact that it is ALL  grown locally in my community!

Nutrition guidelines for your food newbie

As you may know each and every baby develops differently and each baby will start to show interest in food and signs of development at different ages. There are however, different signs to look for to know if your baby is ready to start eating pureed baby food.

Has your baby begin to sit independently? This is one of the most important signs and if your baby is not sitting unsupported yet, then it’s not time to start introducing solids. You should start noticing the signs when your baby is ready, such as the ability to pick up tiny objects with finger, closing mouth and using upper lip to clear cereal off a spoon, the ability to make “chewing” motions, and the ability to put anything and everything to his mouth.

At this stage of development it is important to introduce new sources of iron and zinc not only from infant cereal but from pureed meats as well. Fruits and veggies are important to promote healthy eating habits with nutrients such as vitamin C for a healthy immune system, and most baby food now days have DHA to help support healthy brain and eye development. After 6 months yogurt maybe be added in small amounts. Plain yogurt with the least amount of added sweeteners is best .Although it is a great source of calcium, protein, and vitamins A, D, and E, your baby’s source of all of these nutrients will still come from formula or breast milk.  At this age, your baby should be drinking around 24 – 32 ounces a day. Some may even start to show interest in drinking from a cup!

It’s not necessarily as important which order to introduce new foods in, as it is how often to add new foods. Always wait 4 to 6 days before introducing a new food and only offer new foods one at a time. Watch for any type of reaction; diarrhea, diaper rashes, vomiting, skin rashes, or breathing problems. If a reaction occurs and becomes severe, you should seek medical attention and should consult a doctor before giving the food to your child in the future.

Wait until your baby is at least a year old before giving them cow’s milk, egg whites or whole eggs, chocolate, shellfish, cocoa, or nuts (especially peanuts and peanut butter). Never give babies under the age of one year honey or products made with honey.

Remember:

*Never prop your baby’s bottle or lay your baby flat with eating. This can lead to tooth decay and ear infections.

*Do not add salt, pepper, butter, sugar, honey, or any other seasoning to you baby’s food.

*Unless the whole jar of baby food is eaten at that feeding, use a dish for the portion of food that your baby will eat. This will keep your baby’s saliva from causing the uneaten portion of food to spoil faster.

* Never feed your baby a opened jar of baby food that has been in the refrigerator for more than three days.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Trying to go green?

One of the biggest trends over the last 10 years, is the efforts of normal people to “go green”. Whether it is to save money, celebrate Earth day, or just your way of trying to help our environment, going green definitely has it’s benefits!

We all know some of the simple little things we can do to help, like turn off lights when you leave a room, or sparingly use water. Lots of people are buying hybrid or smart cars to reduce pollution or even carpooling with others to work or school and some have gone as far as to completely cut out the use of a car by riding a bike or walking to work.

All of these are such great ideas to help the earth but there are still so many other things that we can do to help and to save ourselves some money. For instance, what about growing your own food. Believe it or not, growing a garden isn’t  hard to do and you can even go as far as to grow your own fruit, veggies, and herbs! Once it gets growing, you can cut out about 10-25 percent of your grocery bill depending on how much fresh produce you normally buy. A garden measuring 25x25 feet, with 7-10 different kinds of produce and 20-25 plants total can feed a family of four for three to four months!

If you do garden, instead of buying expensive fertilizers, start a compost pile! I do this now and can save about $50.00 per growing season on fertilizers and I now have something to do with all the left over scraps from my fruits, veggies, dead grass, egg shells, and dead annual plants (at the end of the growing season; tomatoes, squash, corn, etc..) It takes little tending, once a week, mix it up and water and add soil.)

Instead of using plastic grocery bags at the store, try using reusable bags!! Even though the bags are around $1 each and chances are they will not pay for themselves before they are slowly destroyed,  you keep 20-35 plastic bags per reusable bag out of land fields. This is a great number!! If you spend $10.00 on reusable bags and use these instead every trip, in 10 trips you've saved 200-350 non-biodegradable plastic bags from being dumped in a land field!

Instead of throwing out old paper towel rolls, egg cartons, empty baby wipe containers, old shoe boxes, foam containers, etc.., try taking them to a local preschool. These are some perfect items that can be used for craft projects for those little youngsters!! And trust me, the teachers will greatly appreciate it!

There are so many different ways to help our planet! Lets try to do all we can, even the smallest things and make significant improvements for mother earth!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Let your baby experience everything

From a very young age, most babies are inquisitive and can’t help but be nosey. They love new experiences and new things. Whether it be seeing a friendly new friend and beautiful nature scene, feeling a soft stuffed animals or running their hand over a dog or cat for the first time.
Babies love to use all their senses so why not let them try, touch, hear, smell, taste, and see new things as much as possible. Even the simplest things will fascinate your baby and it’s quite funny to watch their eyes light up over each and every little thing they experience.
Touch
Let your babies feel everything you feel during the day. Cooking with artichoke tonight? Let your baby hold it for a minute and feel the odd textured object. Letting your baby sit in grass for the first time may leading to the most puzzling expression you’ve ever seen your baby give you! Wouldn’t you love to pet a bunny rabbit if you had never touched one before? Your baby would!
Sound
Babies love music, sound, traffic noises, and some will even pay attention to commercial noises (blenders, vacuum, dishwashers, etc..)  Example: My son would love to ride the vacuum while it’s on. I don’t know why, but he crawls to it as soon as I turn it on. Guitars and other musical instruments will interest some babies.
Taste
This is more important for the older babies (6 months and up). Let your baby taste some sour pickle juice or even a lemon. It’s very funny to watch their reaction and most really like it. More textured food, such as a whole banana put in a mesh feeder usually intrigues a food newbie, after a while you can try mashed potatoes, cooked carrots,etc..
Sight
Babies love to see new, colorful things. Whether it is a bright colored picture of a simple shape, a bird eating birdseed outside the window, or even a pretty colored bath paint during bath time. Take your babies to new places; the park, zoo, or aquarium. They will get to see things they couldn’t ever image!
Smell
I think we often take smells for granite. We may walk past a flower and not even smell it because we’ve smelled them a thousand times. Your baby would love to smell the sweet scent of a rose. Actually, your baby would  probably enjoy seeing, smelling, and touching the rose. You may not realize it but your perfume or shampoo may be one of your baby’s favorite scents. If you have a scent (say gain detergent) that your baby is used to smelling, it may began to be a comforting smell to him.
Babies learn so much in their first year of life so why not help them by giving them new opportunities to learn, touch, smell, taste, and experience life as much as possible. You are your child’s most important teacher.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

My 50th Follower!!

Thank you to S. Greiner for following me!! You are my 50th follower and I'm so excited! I never thought I would have this many people interested in my blog!

Got pictures taken today…

My sister-in-law just started a new job as a photographer at a local portrait studio and these are some of my favorites!!

Bath3Don't eat meDyl and BearDyl BathMy chefbath time

Monday, May 2, 2011

Running errands with more than one child

It’s hard enough to run errands with one child let alone two!! I don’t know how the women I see in the grocery store with 3 and 4 kids do it!! I commend them greatly!!

New mother’s of two sometimes have a hard time taking their children anywhere. I know I did for about six months. I would go to the lengths of postponing shopping trips until I had an extra hand or someone to watch one of the kids. I’ve had horrible experiences with both of them at the store that lead me to do this.

I have since decided that I am just going to have to do what I have to do basically and have started running all my errands during the day with both of them. Recently all our adventures have went well.

If you can detain both the kids (double-stroller- this is best but sometimesit is too much of a hassle especially if you’re trying to push a buggy too. When both kids can sit up, the buggy is just fine. I’m able to use it now and as long as the oldest son is locked in, we are good to go.

Make errands as quick as possible. You don't  want to be in the middle of the store when your toddler decides to throw a tantrum. Hopefully you have made it to the register.

Keep snacks, toys, and Sippy cup handy. This may keep you from having to buy toddler’s impulse buy! I’ve learned to deal with the tantrums even though others haven’t and it still makes me mad when I see someone just staring! OK! You know the kids throwing a fit get over it! When I see this, I think to myself, yeah that could be Jaxon… ignore it.

Baby proofing your home

Here’s some tips for making sure your home is safe for your baby. After baby proofing my house with my first son, I thought I was ready for the second crawler. I was wrong. I soon started remembering all the precautions I took at first and now I’m double checking everything to make sure if just as safe for baby number two.

Checklist for baby proofing:

1.Make sure all outlets are covered with outlet covers. Make sure no cords or blind cords are out of reach.

2. Store all siblings small toys up high and only play with supervision to insure none are left in reach of the baby.

3. Install child proof latches on all cabinets. Even if cleaners are stored up high, eventually that crawler will be walking and moving chairs quietly across the floor and getting in that top cabinet. Later on you may even want them on dresser drawers to keep the toddlers from rearranging their assortment of clothes.

4. Never leave knives, scissors, or any sharp object on even the kitchen counters. Toddlers reach for stuff without looking.

5. If you put your crawler on the floor even for a minute, scan the room and check for small items of any sort.

6. Remove dangerous furniture. (It seems the coffee table is usually the prefect height for a baby to pull up on, hit their head, fall off of. Lamps were the first thing to go in my house and coffee table was next.)

7.Make sure all doors are closed completely before leaving a room. (The bathroom especially. Don’t want baby crawling in there.)

8. Trashcans are easy to knock over and are covered with germs so they are best kept in a pantry or closet.

9.Has your baby found a favorite area to stand, refrigerator for instance, but you have tile floor. Try putting a rug in that spot to keep them from sliding down.

10.Make sure DVD racks, book shelves, etc.. are securely anchored to the wall to keep baby from pulling it down on themselves.

11. Keep electrical appliances away from toddlers. They know what to do with them and while try to plug them in so just keep them out of reach.

I’m sure I will think of a million other things after I post this so there may possibly be a Baby proofing your home: part 2!!

Transitioning to the “big boy bed”

Before my second son was born we began working on this transition making sure that my oldest son was involved in the process every step of the way and we also made sure he completely understood what was going on. He knew why he was getting a big boy bed (too big for the crib basically and climbed in and out of it) and that his new brother would be needing a crib before long. He “helped” us put it together and picked out his new bedding and he helped pick out coordinating bedding my his little brother’s crib.

We first put the toddler bed together and got the bedding on and got Jaxon ready for his first night in the big boy bed. We explained that he had to stay in bed just like in his crib and that just because he was able to get in and out didn’t mean that he could get up in the early A.M. hours and play.. 

The first week, there were many trips back to bed, extra stories read, more water, blah blah and after a while it just got really old. We stopped with all the extra stuff just repeatedly putting him back to bed, kiss, and a firm good night and after the third night it became easier. It took about a week and a half total, he was used to the whole idea and was perfectly fine with it. He now goes straight to bed with no arguments; Oh I’m sure this will change as he gets older but for now thankfully he’s cooperating!!

Dylan–The 7 month old adventurer!!

Yesterday he began pulling up on the couch, coffee table, kitchen chairs, EVERYTHING! When he’s on the floor he just goes! He follows behind his big brother, trying so very hard just to keep up. He is just a little adventurer.

He is just still so young it seems to be doing all this. And the reality of the whole situation is that he is no longer my little infant but almost a toddler! I miss the days that I could lay him in his cradle and he would just sleep and lay there so peacefully…. ah, but those days all long gone!

He is now on to exploring his bedroom, trying to climb up his brothers back, and pestering the dog anytime he is within his site. He’s the same size as his 1 year old cousin and looks just like his older brother. Man oh man, I wonder what the next few months will have in store for him. I’ll be planning his 1st birthday party before I know it.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

7 month old–Pulling up

And failing tremendously I might add. He keeps trying to stand and he keeps falling. Wish I could reason with him, but he’s determined. Going to take some pictures tomorrow. It really is funny because he looks so small and he is pulling up on everything!! I have to watch him like a hawk now and really wish he was still a little less mobile!

Compost Piles

I posted about this earlier in the year when I had first started planting everything.. Usually within the first month, half of all my plants are dead but not this year. The only two plants died and they were the ones that my son pulled up. The only thing I have done differently was used compost from my compost pile. I have added it to the soil twice since planting everything and I am amazed at the results. I'll never buy expensive fertilizer again!!

Peaceful, Quiet Sunday Morning

This is all I could ask for today. I was able to enjoy some coffee and watch the hummingbirds….. and for 35 minutes straight. I didn’t hear a noise in the house. Both kids were sleeping and hubby left for a morning of golf with his buddies. It was so nice.

Until I heard MOMMA!!!!! The two year old was awake and in the process of waking up the baby. At this point all hell had broke loose and it was on. Two screaming kids ready to start their day and already going full force.

Kids are so full of energy and so happy to start the day. It takes me a good hour to wake up… I envy their ambition….

Friday, April 29, 2011

We met on Myspace

So one of my first post several months ago was about my husband and I being together for 5 years now. But I am certain I haven’t told anyone HOW we met.

It’s a funny story actually. We met through Myspace and began talking in Jan. of 2007 and after a few months, we met at the Boardwalk and went on our first date. And we’ve pretty much been together ever since. So if anyone ever tells you that it’s only a bunch of pervs and pedis on those kind of sites. For the most part maybe, but there are some exceptions!! I guess we were an exception.

STILL POTTY TRAINING!!

After being a preschool teacher for 3 years and having the 2/Toddlers room and having to make sure all the kids in my class were potty trained before moving on to the 3 year room….. I really thought I was a master at this but….. After working with my son for 7 months now, I’m not sure I’ll ever get him using his big boy potty!!!

I always said that I would never have 2 kids in diapers and really thought I would have Jax potty trained by now but SHIT!!! What can you do with a kid that is determined to stay in diapers until he is grown!!!

I’ve always heard the rule about doing something consistently for a month before it becomes a habit or second nature but really now….. really… SEVEN months of consistency and he still fights me when I try to get him to go!!

At this point all I can figure is he’s just not ready and maybe I should stop trying to make him…. I’m thinking that I’m just going to give it a rest for now and let him take his time. He still has 5 months before his third birthday so maybe by then it will be a little easier.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

You can’t have anything nice with kids…

 

My mother often told me this when Jaxon was little, when I would brag about the awesome new guitar lamp I bought for my husband or I would tell my mom we were getting new carpet. I just thought she was exaggerating… Little did I know that she was sooo right. I’ve just about decided that I will not buy anything brand new again until the kids are much older. Jaxon basically destroys everything he touches.. LoL This I promise you!

Brand new leather couch…. The second month it was covered with pen marks…. Thanks for watching him closely daddy! Ugh.. can’t tell you all the toys we have thrown away, how many walls have been marked on, and how many precious items of mine have been broke.I’ve since learned that I can’t have anything on my coffee table, and there is really no need to have an end table if I can’t have an awesome lamp there so my point to the rambling… keep valuables up high, clear off the kitchen and coffee tables and make sure that no chairs are in distance of the valuables or the candy jar!!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Teething and Ear Infections–Very Similar Symptoms!!

After a tiring weekend and no signs of anything but teething, I started to wonder if maybe something else was going on with my baby. Since his last visit to the doctor about a month ago, he has had an on and off clear runny nose. His doctor assured me it was allergies and that he had no congestion. His nurse also told me that with the teething sometime it can make their nose run due to the crying.

Sunday night the fever began so I took him to the ER. He was basically given a shot and I was assured that he only had a sinus infection and he would be fine and sent home. I wasn’t told to follow up with his pediatrician or anything.

I went ahead and called first thing Monday morning and got an appointment for the following day to see his doctor. Mid-morning I noticed some drainage in his ear and immediately called back the doctor and told them he needed to be seen today; ASAP.

I took him in and he was thoroughly checked over. His doctor said he had a inner ear infection and that with teething the symptoms are usually quite similar and with a 7 month old, they usually haven’t learned to pull on their ears yet.

I felt horrible that for the last few days he has had this and I just can’t believe the ER nurses didn’t notice the drainage in his throat from the ear infection and didn’t even look in his ears.

My oldest son only recently had his first cold so I was oblivious to the fact that these two different problems can have so many of the same symptoms. I’ve never had a child with an ear infection and I pray that this won’t be an ongoing problem he has. It’s so tuff when they are still too little to tell you what’s wrong and where they hurt!

Complications at birth

During the birth of my first son, things suddenly took a turn for the worst and it got very scary. The first problems came after a full night in the hospital in labor. My husband and I were both there and at about 5 am and my demoral began in wear off and I was in great amount of pain. When my hubby called the nurses and they came to check me, I was almost fully dilated and soon began to feel the need to push. But they told me not to. They were trying to hurry to get the epidural in me when Jaxon’s heart rate suddenly dropped and my blood pressure went through the roof. I was terrified and crying because I didn’t know if my baby would be ok. I was rushed into the OR and after only 10 minutes and with the amazing staff, my beautiful baby boy was born; 17 in long and 4 lbs. 4 oz. I at the time had no idea that my water had broke during the epidural and there was quite a lot of meconium in the amniotic fluid. He was 3 weeks early but still considered full-term.

I was fine and everyone assured me that my baby was fine but I didn’t see him for another 14 hours afterward. He wasn’t in NICU but was on antibiotics for 24 hours after his birth. I was so upset and heartbroken that I couldn’t see him and at 7:30 that evening I lost all my patients and assured the nurse that if a wheel chair wasn’t brought at that minute I would be walking with my catheter in my hands down to the nursery to see him. Immediately a wheel chair was brought and I was taken down to the nursery to see him. He was in an incubator so that he would stay warm since he was so tiny and was connected to an IV for the antibiotics.

The next morning was the first time I held him, he was brought to me and I wouldn’t allow him to leave the room after that. I wanted him with me at all times.

In the last 2 and a half years, I’ve given birth twice; and have had three friends that have had babies. Out of all 5 births, 4 were cesarean section births, 3 due to complications, 1 planned c-section, and 1 vaginal birth.

I guess complications during delivery are more common than I thought. But thankfully we have so much more medical technology than 50 years ago

Sunday, April 24, 2011

And the teething continues..

For the last two weeks everything has been back to normal. Dylan was back on his schedule after his two bottom teeth came in and he was feeling better. But since yesterday things seem to be going back down hill. My poor little mister is back to drooling uncontrollably and crying hysterically for long periods of time. Last night was tough after getting up probably 5 times through the night to comfort him, put some orajel on his gums, and get him back to sleep. Today has been pretty much the same and I’m certain that a top tooth will be breaking through soon. It’s so pitiful and I feel helpless. I’ve resorted to Tylenol after nothing else worked this afternoon. I tried everything I knew and it finally came down to that but has certainly helped. He’s feeling much better and is trying to catch up on some much needed sleep. Hopefully tonight will be better.

I am furious with my local fire dept..

After a wonderful Easter morning, spending time with my family, we all left to go have lunch with our Grandmother. My husband, myself, and two sons were in one vehicle and my mother-in-law was in her car ahead of us by a few minutes. We were only a few minutes away from the house when a fire truck came flying around a blind curve literally in the middle of the road. I grabbed the dashboard to brace myself because I was unsure of what was about to happen. My husband reacted amazingly stopping almost instantly and pulling all the way onto the shoulder. I don’t know what would have happened if there would have been no shoulder and only a ditch or culvert.

I immediately called my mother-in-law who was trying to call me to warn us because she had been ran off the road and nearly hit a culvert. We were all extremely mad. She told me she was going to the fire department to make a complaint and I told her we were right behind her and going to do the same thing.

We did and I plan to go back in the morning to speak with the captain. When we arrived I went in alone because my husband was so mad, I was worried he may lost his temper. I was shaking when I walked in and my mother-in-law was already there and she too was visibly shaken. The EMT’s were extremely apologetic and assured us that he is going to be in serious trouble. I explained to him that my family’s life was just as important as that person that they were on their way to help and he almost caused 5 people (MY BABIES especially) that we knew of (no telling who else he ran off the road) to be seriously injured.

I will be making a trip back to the fire station in the morning to speak with the captain. And something will be done about this person. He shouldn’t be driving for the fire department. He made them look extremely bad today putting so many other lives in jeopardy.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

A new Easter Tradition

 

For the last two years, we have an Easter egg dying party and hunt for my boys, my niece, and a few of their cousins at our house the Saturday before Easter Sunday. My youngest son slept through most of the festivities but my oldest son really had a blast! Of course we will have several more hunts tomorrow; the first one in the morning at the house just for him and then another one at Grandma's house with all the cousins.

I married into a very large and close family. Everyone gets together as much as possible for birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, New Years, among a number of other events each year. So were are talking about 12 kids running around the backyard at full force looking for Easter eggs!!! It’s going to be fun!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

My two boys diagnosed with Dermatitis

 

After hearing the horror stories from my mother-in-law about her daughter suffering from a much more server form of dermatitis then I had ever heard anything about, I often worried about my first son having it. While I was pregnant I had a dream that he was born with it and it covered most of his body.

He had no symptoms of dermatitis until right after his first birthday and my mother-in-law cried when I showed her. She knew exactly what it was. I made a doctor’s appointment and he was diagnosed with Atopic Enzyme Dermatitis. It has been an ongoing battle and something I often worry about. It is very hard to keep under control and causes his skin to become extremely dry and irritated and he usually scratches, making it much worse; usually to the point of bleeding.

In the last year and a half we have been through 10 different ointments, 2 series of steroids, and many doctor visits. The steroids are the only things that work but will literally make my son climb the walls and crazy but within 2 days of being on the steroids it is almost completely cleared up. It’s so frustrating because as hard as we try we can’t keep it from happening and none of the ointments really work that well.

I’ve started noticing places on my seven month old’s ankles and I  knew he had it too. During his doctor’s appointment yesterday I showed the doctor who immediately asked, “Your oldest has it too doesn’t he?” I said yes and almost began to cry. His is nowhere near the severity of his older brothers and I hope it never will be. Only time will tell. The most important thing is they will make it through this. They are happy, healthy children, and this is something small and over time they will grow out of it.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tips on an average weekly coupon shopping trip.

On Wednesday afternoon, after I get the grocery ads out of the mail and the ads out of the Sunday paper I began searching ads for the best priced products! Anything I find that is cheaper than normal I circle. Anything I know I have a coupon for I circle and write the amount of the coupon discount next to the price.
After finding all the best priced items I get a notebook and start with the first store; listing the items I will buy, the price of the item, any coupon I have I write the amount and whether or not it will be doubled or tripled and finally the price that I will pay for the item.
EXAMPLE:
Duracell Batteries (10 pk)  - $5.99 – ($1.00 off coupon) = $4.99  <--- This week at K-mart)
I do this with each store then after listing all my items, I write the total amount I will send in each store and the total amount of coupon and savings card savings. Then after each trip I can make sure I saved that amount if not more!! This way I can track all my savings for the month!
Make sure to only buy what you have on your list unless it’s a great deal or you have a good coupon. Also, pay close attention at the register to make sure everything scans correctly and all your coupons go through.
**Don’t forget to get your rain checks on items they are out of!!**

Tips for a well organized coupon binder

There are only 4 things you need for a coupon binder.
1. Binder ($0.75)
2. Notebook paper ($0.75)
3. 15-20 Clear trading card display sheets. (This is the most effective method I have found for displaying and easily finding the coupons) ($5.00)
4. coupons!!!
Total Spent on Binder : $6.50
I have a table of Contents in the front of my binder if I forget where something is I can look there.
You make your table of contents according to what coupons you have and how you want to set it up. I have mine set up with each page being for each isle in the store. I only shop at Wal-Mart now that I know they honor their price match guarantee. So I can easily go up and down each isle and look at each page to see if I have a coupon for items when I get to the isle. This way I’m not backtracking through the store looking for things!
Check out my other post ; Coupon Shopping!!!, for more great tips and money saving ideas!!

Coupon Shopping!!

Ok! Ok! I'm letting the secret out....... I'm a coupon shopper!! I never pay full price for anything, I always brag about my saving (as you can tell), I use a saving card or coupon on every item I buy. I promise it isn't hard to do!! I save between $150-$300 a month. Ok... this does take some thought and planning but once you get the hang of it, it's really simple.
First, we have a few rules to follow anytime you go coupon shopping.
#1. If it isn't on sale DON'T BUY IT!
#2.Search grocery ads BEFORE u go to find the best deals and lowest prices.
#3.Take coupon binder in the stores with you, just incase you see something on sale that wasn't in the ad.
#4. Use store savings cards and coupons on EVERY item to save the most money.
#5. Always clip coupons out of the Sunday paper.
#6. Sign up with websites like freestuff.com. I check these websites daily to see which brand websites are offering free samples and coupon. They send them to you in the mail!! I receive at least 2 samples or coupons in the mail each day now... How awsome is that!! One of my last shopping trips I bought Gain Dishsoap..... .25 cents! I now have a 6 month supply!! LoL!
#7. If you can print coupons online.. DO IT!! Find only secure websites. Usually product brand websites are the best. Although coupons.com is also a great website.
#8. Write down everything you are going to buy and how much it will be. You MUST go by this sheet in the store. If it is more than you thought it would be, don't buy it.
#9. Pay very close attention at the register. If something rings up wrong it could mess up the whole price. A shopping trip could go from $6.56 to -$16.56. This would defeat the whole purpose of coupon shopping.
#10. Always get rainchecks!! I can't stress this enough!! Sometimes it's a good thing if the store doesn't have something I wanted on sale. I can wait until I have a coupon with a raincheck and get the item super cheap!!
*REMEMBER*- Coupon shopping is like a game... and you are trying to beat the store!
Good Luck Fellow Couponers!!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Country Boy Can Survive Lyrics; The truth behind the words.

The preacher man says it’s the end of time
And the Mississippi River she’s a goin’ dry
The interest is up and the Stock Markets down
And you only get mugged
If you go down town
I live back in the woods, you see
A woman and the kids, and the dogs and me
I got a shotgun rifle and a 4-wheel drive
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk till dawn
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain’t too many things these ole boys can’t do
We grow good ole tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Because you can’t starve us out
And you cant makes us run
Cuz we're them old boys raised on shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn
We came from the West Virginia coalmines
And the Rocky Mountains and the and the western skies
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine
But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45
Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Cause you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
Cuz we're them old boys raised on shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn
We’re from North California and south Alabam
And little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
This is a great song!! And it has so much truth to it!! I woke up this morning with this song in my head and it really got me thinking!?! What would happen in the world today if we lost all computer communications, lost electricity, and government control. It’s scary to even think about but it’s a worse-case scenario that could one day happen.
Would you be able to survive? Would you even know where to start or what to do? Everyone’s standards of living would drastically be dropped and there would be millions of people that wouldn’t even know where to began.
Can you image being raised in the old days when there was not virtually no technology? And it really wasn’t that long ago!! 80 years ago people lived so much different! There were people that still lived off the land, built their own houses from the ground up, hunted their food out of the woods, and were happy with their lives!
I read a series of books when I was 16 by a man that lived about an hour or so away from me in Fouke, Ark. The purpose of the books were firstly make sure the legend of the Fouke monster continues (but that is a WHOLE other story).
Secondly, to inform others of life for an ole’ country boy growing up in the back woods of Arkansas in the 30’s. He was proud of the way he was raised and the hardships that he faced because those struggles are what made him the person he was!!
Mr. J.E. “Smokey” Crabtree wrote a series of books, Smokey and the Fouke Monster, The Men behind the Legend, and Too Close to the Mirror. If you ever have the opportunity to read these books, please do. They will give you a different perspective on life in the old days and respect for your great grandparents and your ancestors.

Monday, April 18, 2011

I helped a friend get set to start couponing!!

Ok, so for the last couple of weeks, I haven’t really been keeping up with my coupon binder. I have been saving all my coupons not clipping and organizing. B it took a few hours to get it back in order but I got it ready for an afternoon of shopping!
Yesterday afternoon, I went to my sister-in-law’s house and we clipped, organized, searched ads for several hours. This was the first time she had an organized coupon binder and I was proud to have helped her. She did use coupon here and there but I wanted her to know that it is possible to get 120.00 worth of groceries for 40-45.00!
I went back today and we searched through all the ads for the best deals and I explained to her how I coupon shop. I tried to give her as many tips as possible and gave her a good head start on going on the FIRST trip.
She proudly called me after her shopping trip only going to one store, which in my opinion is the best choice with a teething baby. I explained earlier that if she didn’t mind taking quite a while at the register, she could go in wal-mart find the best priced items out of all the weekly ads, and when she checked out she could she the cashier the price in the other store’s ad and Wal-Mart will honor that price. It does take a long time to check out but if you can do this, why waste the gas driving around town with a fussy baby.
She was able to get everything she had planned to get and with the 31.00 gift card and 10.00 cash, she got a week’s worth of groceries!! I was so happy to have been able to help her out and I’m so glad that she is a coupon shopper now!! Yay Whitney!!
Let me know if I can help out in the future!!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Babies love music!! Even Rock N Roll!

During both of my pregnancies the first few times I felt my boys kick, was while I was playing the guitar with it pressed against my belly. Ok, so at first I didn’t know if they liked it or hated it. I continued to play during the majority of my pregnancy; until I literally couldn’t play because my belly was too big and I couldn’t fit it in my lap. Not to mention the babies kicked so much and so hard. It was much worse with my second son because I gained a few extra pounds and my belly got extra big.
Now with both of my boys avidly listening to my husband and I play, they really enjoy it! Dylan now crawling, likes to climb on it not really understanding the whole concept yet but Jaxon has his own “little man” guitar and strums a neat little beat. He also plays my hubby’s drums as often as I’ll let him!!
Kids love music even from an extremely young age so why not start them out early! It is a awesome hobby for the whole family.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

My son cut his second tooth

I knew it wouldn’t be long until my six and a half month old son cut another tooth! He had been miserable the last few days and I felt terrible for him!! We used Tylenol and baby orajel all day long and finally at about 10:30 (last dose before bed) I felt it had broke through. He has still been miserable ever since and I hate it because I feel helpless, being unable to really do much of anything for him.
My first son didn’t get his first tooth until he was 11 months old and really didn’t have much trouble at all. He was only fussy a few days and they all seemed to come in at once. Well, one after another. He had all his teeth even his molars after only 4 months of cutting his first tooth.
I’ll be so glad when he’s feeling better and hope that he is able to get the fairly quick for his sake. He’s always such a happy baby and it is so unlike him to be so miserable. It’s really sad and hurts my heart!

Hearing Loss in Babies

3 out of every 1000 babies born today will suffer with some type of hearing loss and many of these babies aren’t diagnosed until months down the road. This is because only 43 states have laws passed that make sure each baby’s hearing is checked before they may leave the hospital. This means 7 states will not mandatorily check each baby! A baby with hearing loss may be given a clean bill of health and sent home and the problem may otherwise go unnoticed until the baby is little older!
Expecting mothers:
You can get a copy of your hospitals policies to find out if hearing screenings in newborns is a mandated law. After having my first child I found out that my insurance did not cover the screening but they range from $10 – $15 dollars depending on the different test used so even if it isn’t mandatory in your state you can still have it done for next to nothing!! Please make sure to get this done. It is defiantly worth it!!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Bird Seed

I have never really thought about it until my son became fascinated with it the other day, but children really seem to like birdseed. Running it between their fingers, stepping in it, playing with it, and making stuff with it!!

We decided to make a bird feeder stick with birdseed and peanut butter and afterword, Jax played with the birdseed for quite a while!! I know it feels really different than most anything a two year-old was played with before and he really loved it!! He even wanted to go play back in it again this morning when we went to watch the birds!

I’ve always heard that we should let your children explore everything, feel different textures, etc. and I think that this would be something WONDERFUL to add to a sensory table (with supervision of course)!! Perfect for this time of year, not to mention the birdfeed sticks you can make, and the great times you can have with your children watching and learning about birds!!

Garden Success!!

After several years of no success….. EVER with my garden, I seem to be having better luck this year! Gosh, I hope I don’t jinx myself!

I added several new flower beds finally after having nothing in the front yard for years. We recently added a front porch, which I love and I added a herb garden, vegetable garden, and two flower beds!!

My husband also bought me some Tiny Sensation Lily which I love because they are finally blooming and are beautiful!!

Last year, almost everything dies in the first month and what didn’t die, my oldest son either pulled up on stepped on!! Anyways, wish me luck for the rest of the season!! I am super excited that my yard is beautiful!

A Nice Quiet Friday Evening

I'm so happy that I can just sit here on a Friday evening with my husband and only one baby!! It's so nice! Usually every Friday night, my mother-in-law comes over to get my oldest son! And this Friday was no different!
I'm now able to enjoy  nice quite evening, listening to my husband play the guitar and water my plants without having to throw down the hose to run and get my son, who is usually taking off next door to his Honey's (grandmaw's) house.
I love living out in the country with no loud vehciles, neighbors, or anything else. Only the crickets at night and the occasional train! I love my life!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Eureka Whirlwind Upright Vacuum

I just bought this vacuum about 2 weeks ago and it really has some wonderful features. It advertises a “Whole Home Clean” on the front of the box which really is what lured me in.

It features the Power Paw which is great for upholstery, stairs, celling fans, blinds, curtains, and the list goes on and on. The Whirlwind using cyclonic technology that powerfully grabs dirt and dust deep down in your carpet and has a HEPA filter that catches 99.97% of dust and pet dander. Trust me, it makes a difference for people with allergies!!

My husband did have to assemble the vac for me but other than that it’s an easy to use vacuum. Also, is self propelled. I love this feature, being a small lady. It feels much lighter when it is running. I actually like to use this product and now, I don’t mind vacuuming….. as much!! LOL

MIO Liquid Water Enhancer

I ordered a free sample of this product about 2 months ago and have probably bought 4 more since then!! I love it! I’m not the only one, my son really likes it too, which is wonderful because there is 0 sugar, 0 sodium, and 0 fat! All natural flavors, nothing artificial!! It’s great!

A tiny container makes about 24 servings and you just add a few squirts to a bottle of water. It doesn’t get any easier than that!!

Bloggie Touch digital camera/camcorder by SONY

After my sweet little son destroyed me Kodak camera last Christmas and myself being camera-less for way too long, I went camera shopping!

I spent about an hour looking at cameras, trying to decide which one was best for the bucks I wanted to spend. I had decided on spending about $150 for something that would last with my rambunctious two year old, and take good quality photos.

The Bloggie Touch digital camera/camcorder was my final choice and after about a month of owning it, I couldn’t be more pleased. It take HD photos, 14 megapixels, records up to 2 hours of video, software installed on Bloggie (plug in camera to computer and automatically installs), 4 G memory, and it’s a touch screen. It’s extremely simple to use, there are only 3 buttons and everything else is done on the screen.

Some people may consider these the drawbacks but I do not. There are no batteries. You must plug it in to your computer to charge. I use mine for a week, everyday before I charge it, but the battery never goes below half way charged, so it has a very long charge! There is also nowhere to put a memory card, but with 4 G memory, there really no need for an additional memory card.

I ended up spending about $200, this included an extended 4 year warranty, but I’m so happy I bought it. It really takes amazing pictures and the software included is simple to use. You can automatically upload photos to your Facebook account, which I do quite often and love!!

Compost Piles

My grandmother always had a compost pile when I was growing up. I remember saving all kinds of  scrap veggies, fruits, and meats. So after several years of really no luck with my gardening I decided this year… what the heck! Hey it couldn’t hurt!

I started my pile back before Christmas so it was really to add to soil in early Feb.

I mixed compost in all my soil several weeks before planting and I have had wonderful results! I’m certain I’ll  continue my compost pile. I’m really just thrilled to have everything grow this year!!

Monday, April 4, 2011

A 6 month old with a tooth!!

So, after 4 days of non-stop crying and no sleep my poor little 6 month old son just cut his first tooth!! The doctor and I talked about it 2 weeks ago when he had his check up and he said he may be starting the process of teething but it will be a while before he gets any teeth…. boy has he wrong! And won’t he be surprised when Dylan goes back in 3 weeks for his next booster!!
I’m very relieved because I now know what has been wrong with him the last few days. Anyways, I’m glad I’m no longer breast feeding! Haha!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Dragon Age: 2

With everything going on the past couple of months, I have had no time for one of my favorite hobbies.... video gaming!! My husband even pre-ordered this game and we just now got it..... We pre-ordered back in December!!
Well, my husband started his character last night and was very happy with the game play, graphics, and his favorite, the cut scenes!
I will hopefully be able to start my character this weekend, finally! Every review I have heard has been great. I don't think I've heard one negative thing about this game so far. The only complaint I have heard has been from one of my friends, saying he wished the game would have been longer, which was my only complaint with the first Dragon Age.
Well, I probally won't do much blogging this weekend... gonna try to get some hours in on Dragon Age!! Yay!!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Free Samples for March 31

 

Samples Website
Taster’s Choice coffee (choice from 6 flavors) Taster's Choice free sample
SofLense daily disposable sample Contact Lens Sample

Enjoy these free samples!! Updating again soon!!

Count your blessings

Each day I take for grantided the wonderful things that have been given to me by God; my amazing husband, my precious children, an awsome extended family I joined when I married my husband, not to mention the countless other things that my husband has provided for our children and myself.

But still I haven't realized how blessed I have been! Not until seeing the devistation caused by a fire, causing a family to loose their home, cars, everything they had in their home, and their business. I am currently praying for this family and hope that they may soon be able to get back on their feet and return to a somewhat normal life. Something similar to what they once had.

Count your blessings because it can all be taken away in an instant! Be thankful for what you have and thank the ones that have helped you along the way!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Join Gifts to Grow now and get 100 Free Points.

From knowing exactly when they want teddy to comforting them at 3am, the list of love is endless. Gifts to Grow gives parents the rewards they deserve, simply by buying Pampers diapers and wipes. Join now and get 100 Free Points.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Cream Cheese Filled JalapeƱos

8 jalapenos

1 pkg. of cream cheese; softened

1 pkg. of bacon

First, prepare your barbeque grill as you normally would and using hickory flavored charcoal gives the peppers a great flavor. Cut tops off of jalapenos and cut slit down one side to remove to seeds but keep intact to later add cream cream. After you have removed all the seeds, fill each jalapeno with  about a teaspoon of cream cheese  and wrap each one with a piece of bacon. Add all of them to the grill at one time. Cook on each side until bacon is thoroughly cooked.

Monday, March 28, 2011

New Samples for the Last Few Days in March

As I posted earlier I find most of my samples from freestuff.com, but just incase you haven’t checked it out yet, here are a few more FREE SAMPLES!

Samples Website
Fiber Choice Chewy Tablets Fiber Choice Samples
Maven Shampoo Sample Maven Beauty - Sign up for samples
Free Pouch of Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Sample from Smart Source Coupons!!

This is only a few new ones…. I’ll try to update again tomorrow!!

The Free Sample Website

There is a link further down my page for the website freestuff.com. This is a great website to sign up for. Each day they send you an e-mail with a sample of the day. The samples are usually from the manufacture’s website and it doesn’t take but a few weeks to get your samples. Sign up with this website!! After looking through many sites, I think this is the best one. I have found others but they just aren’t as good. New stuff is added all the time and there are several different areas in the site to find places with the best priced items, codes for special promos for different brands, ect. Most all of the samples that I have found have been from this site!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Tips for Babies getting Vaccines

Well it was that time again for my 6 month old son. Oh how I hate taking my children in for shots. It is so pitiful to see my poor baby going from a big beautiful grin thanks to all the smiling faces and sweet voices to being completely terrorized and afraid. But these tips always help me to make the best of a bad situation.
First, always make sure that you give your baby a dose of Tylenol before you leave for the doctor or in the car before going in to the appointment. By the time your baby gets his shots the Tylenol should be working strong and should relieve some of the pain from the initial prick. Tylenol should also help with any small reactions after the shots, like fever, irritability,  or soreness.
Also, if your child has a favorite item such as a pacifier, blanket,or  stuffed animal make sure you have it handy during and after the shots. I unfortunately lost Dylan’s pacifier before we even made it in the office. This was horrible!! I knew I had an extra in the car, but after the shots they have to stay in the office for 10 minutes and the nurse observes the child incase of any severe reaction…. he screamed the whole time and I couldn’t calm him down.
Finally, if at all possible schedule a feeding for right after or even during the shot. The nurse always says this is fine and if he is ready to eat it will give him something else to concentrate on while he is getting his shot!
I hope these tips help to make your baby’s doctor visit just a tad bit easier!

A Day in the Life of a Baby

I love to sit and watch my baby play. It is so funny to watch him get so excited over to smallest thing. Maybe just daddy bending down and kissing him on the cheek or him touching his face to his favorite blanket. He will began to laugh histerically and throw his arms and legs up and down.
Everything is new to a baby! There are so many “firsts” in such a small amount of time, and it makes me so happy to be there to see them all. Each look of bewilderment when he tried baby food, each look of amazement as I blew bubbles for him and his brother.
I wish that I could get that happy about something! Something so simple as a funny voice! A baby’s innocence is a beautiful thing.

Newborns turn into Toddlers so fast!!

Oh how I miss those days when I was able to just lounge around the house with my sweet tiny bundle of joy. I never in my wildest dream would have thought two years later I would have two boys!! But those days of peace and quiet with my little miracle and long gone and now my life is filled with so much more excitement!! Now with a two and a half year old and a 6 month old, I rarely do much else but clean and care for my babies. Not that I don’t love this, I’m just saying that the days fly by and before you know it your little newborns are walking and talking!!
My 6 month old is now starting to crawl and sitting by himself. He is still very dependent on me but I know this will soon change when he begins feeding himself and walking.
NEW MOMS – Just enjoy those first months! Those moments are so precious and if you don’t take time to appreciate the small things and the special times you will really miss them when they are gone.

Mac N Cheese

1 box of macaroni pasta

1/2 container Velveeta

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 pkg cream cheese

1 Tbsp butter

Boil pasta  as directed on pkg and drain. Put back in pot and add all the ingredients. Turn heat on low and stir until well blended and hot.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

March curricular activities for two year olds–Gardening

 

March is a great month for gardening so why not involve your two year old as well. They will love to dig in the dirt, dig holes, and look at the pretty flowers you are planting. Watering the garden every evening seems to be something my son really loves.

Gardening is also a great way to introduce new veggies into your child’s diet. Knowing they helped to grow the veggies may help persuade your child to try something new. Show your child when you use veggies or herbs in your food. Let them know they are eating something that they grew!

Try teaching them about a different step in the growing process each week. Let the favorite color of the week be the color of the flowers you planted that week. Even try letting your child have their own plant that they can care for. Show your child how different plants have different shaped and colored seed, blubs, ect.

Even plan indoor activities that have something to do with the garden. Have your child help you prepare an indoor herb garden. The kitchen window seal is an ideal place for a few of your favorite herbs. Have your children decorate the clay pots for your indoor herb garden. Painting with a brush works best on clay pots.

Home-Made Mashed Potatoes

8 large potatoes

1 small container of sour cream

1/4 block sharp cheddar cheese

3 Tbsp butter

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 pkg. of bacon; crumbled

1/4 cup fresh chives

1/4 cup milk

Peel and cube potatoes. Boil in a large pot on high heat for 30 minutes or until fully cooked. Drain water from potatoes and mash. Add sour cream, butter, cheese, salt, bacon, chives, and milk. Put mashed potatoes on low heat to finish warming thoroughly.

Activities for Bored Toddlers–Indoor Sensory Table

So it’s raining outside. Your toddler just doesn’t seem to understand why it may not be the best idea to go play in the rain. Why not bring some outdoor fun indoors!

Water/sand/sensory tables are great ways to bring outdoor fun, indoors! Instead of the same old sand… you can put cut up pumpkin chunks on the table, around fall holidays. During the summer you could put sea shells with different textures and colors on the table. Name the different types of shells, show pictures of different animals that live in the shells (crabs, clams, ect.) Has your child ever seen a pineapple? Cut one up and add to the table and be sure to save some to sample.

Don’t have a sensory table?!? Line your sink with heavy plastic if you are worried about clogging it up and add whatever. Just pick up plastic and discard it the trash when finished.

The possibilities are endless!! Keep adding new things; different and usual things that your child usually doesn’t see.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Southern Style Green Beans

2 cans of green beans; partly drained

1 Tbsp bacon grease (optional of you are worried about the fat)

1Tbsp butter (if you don’t use bacon grease)

3 or 4 sliced of bacon; crumbled

1 small onion; diced

1/4 tsp salt

Saute onions in butter or bacon grease for 2 or 3 minutes on med-high heat or until onions are transparent and tender. Add bacon crumbles, salt, and green beans and continue a heat for 4 or 5 minutes.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Louisiana Gumbo

This is a recipe my grandfather gave me a few years ago. I make it all the time now because it is probally the best gumbo I've ever had. You can use chicken or any kind of seafood (shrimp is the best). Smoked or home-made sausage is also really good.
      (Roux)
1/2 cup crisco shortening; melted.
Brown on Med-High heat in the large pot. Slowly stir in 1 cup of flour and continue stirring until the roux becomes a medium brown color. (The color of peanut butter) You must stir continuously to keep from burning or sticking .
Once browned, add in:
3 small onions; finely chopped
2 bellpeppers; finely chopped
1 cup celery; finely chopped
2 garlic cloves; minced
3 Tbsp Worsechestershire sauce
1/4 tsp cayanne
1/2 tsp salt
Saute for a minute or two and add 1 pitcher of hot water; pour slowly and mix completely.
Cover and let this simmer for about 20 minutes; stirring occasionally.
You will need a pound of whatever meat you decide to use. (If using chicken, cook and cut in chunks before adding since it takes awhile to cook. If using sausage, brown and cut up before adding. If using seafood, you may add it raw. Shrimp or scallops should only take 3 or 4 minutes to boil and crab may take a few minutes longer.
At this point, after you know your meat is done, you can take it off the heat.
Pour over rice and serve.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

5 years since we met!

So, I've always heard you should never meet people on the internet. They are all stalkers and pedifiles. And I even had a few friends that thought I was crazy for meeting a guy on the internet. Well 5 years ago, I began talking to a guy on myspace and after a few weeks we went on our first date. Three years later we were married with a beautiful little boy. Now, after 5 years we are still happily married with two little boys and a wonderful life. Now I know that this is usually not the case with someone you meet on myspace and maybe we are the exception but it goes to show that it can happen!! He found a picture of me after doing a search for people with common interest in our area...(playing the guitar and same taste in music).  Thank you myspace!

My 2 year old golfer.

I'm so proud of my two year old golfer. He has taken up the same interest as my husband and is actually pretty good. From the time he could walk, he started trying to golf like daddy. And now he is 2 years and 5 months old and he is really very coordinated. He walks up to the golf ball with his little club and lines up the club to the ball and swings. He hits it almost every time. I'm so thrilled he likes it, because my husband goes a few times a week and pretty soon he can start taking our son with him!! Yay!! My hubby has already went and bought him miniature clubs, so next will be his golf bag. If he stays interested in this, I think he will be amazing by the age of 10 or so. I'm just happy he found something he really likes doing!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

My First Blog!

  Finally, I can create my first blog! I just recently purchased a new computer now that we can get decent internet way out here in the country. You would think anyone could get good internet service anywhere now days, but this is not true! Anyhow, now my new computer is all set up!
  Wow what a busy week with so many things going on right now. Just finished up all the flower beds last weekend, planning to put up a new fence next weekend, then on to the next project which will be remodeling the kitchen and living room.

  Well, time to feed the kids, get them ready for bed, and do some much needed cleaning! -Peace