Bump Progress - 34 weeks

Its been awhile since I've done this and I've been bad about taking pics. So late last night I made Nic take a new bump pic. Im not real sure on a comparison pic so this will have to do. I figure it's about the same time.

First pic: 2006
Second pic: 34 weeks

Murphy's Law

If anything can go wrong, it will. Also, if you go out of your house looking like crap you will see someone you know, or possibly end up in front of a television news camera. Thats what happened to me this morning. Belle and I decided to go to the park fairly early and while luckily I was dressed halfway nice, I had just put up my wet hair and put some foundation on. I even forgot my glasses. So imagine my surprise when on our way back to the car I was confronted by Channel 6 news. They wanted my opinion on the recent drug arrests in Franklin and if I felt safe in the neighborhood. Well considering I live in the subdivision where a murder happened, not so much, but overall I think Franklin is a fairly nice town.

Now you'd think the smell of poopy diaper would've been enough to keep them away. Or maybe the fact that while they are interviewing me, my kid is having free roam of the van and decides to lay on the horn. I don't know, but it's my hope that I don't end up on the news tonight.

Lesson learned, atleast do your makeup.

The Event of the Summer!

On Friday Belle and I traveled to Ohio to attend my friend Kelly's Tea Party that she held for her daughters and friends. Let me just say that Kelly out did herself. Everything was beautiful!!

The girls all had their own place setting and they sat and ate the cutest foods. There were little pb&j sandwiches, strawberries and chocolate fondue, veggie wraps, and all kinds of creative goodies. Belle of course being her picky self stuck with mostly pretzels. She did love these little pretzel butterflies with caramel. And I agree, they were great!

Everything was just so beautiful and Kelly even made the girls the cutest little headbands. Belle being her ever so bow defiant self, only kept hers on for short spurts. So I of course ended up wearing it.

Kelly planned a treasure hunt and Belle mostly just ran after all the girls. She made friends with my friend Sarah's daughter Lilly (4). I think once she started running around with Lilly, she just had so much more fun. All she wanted to do was be a part of what the big girls were doing.

The evening winded down with the girls watching a movie in their sleeping bags. Belle mostly just wanted to play in Jayda and Jacey's playroom, but eventually settled down in Lilly's sleeping bag with her. We stayed up really late. I just hated to leave when Belle was having such a good time, and I was having fun catching up with the girls. We ended up leaving about 10:00pm and poor Belle was so tired that she fell asleep in the car, something she NEVER does.

It was certainly the event of our summer and hope we get an invite for next year!

New blog

Ok so I probably need a new blog like I need a hole in my head, but here it is www.mommy-cents.blogspot.com. I created this blog since there has been a little interest in my new couponing hobby.

It's my hope that this blog can be a community of sorts where we all post our successes and scenarios. If you've picked up this fun new hobby and want to join in on posting, just send me an email. So far I've got Tish (Sara's friend) on board and hope to get my sister and my friend Kelly to help too.

Some things never change

Gosh I feel old sometimes but this weekend really took me back to 1998. Anita and I ventured out to our 10 year high school reunion. Seems like just yesterday that Anita and I were playing on the swings at Van Cleve elementary. And now look at us, we're both very pregnant (Anita is due at the end of Nov.) and went to the reunion in my mommy van.

I was a little hesitant to go in the first place, but decided to tag along with Anita when she asked. Let me just say IT WAS PAINFUL. Not only did the planner not do a very good job, but it was just like a high school dance. Complete with couples dances, lights and a fog machine. I guess I was hoping for something a little more mature.

I think I've come a long way since good ol'Troy High and was hoping to maybe talk to some people I never really got to know in high school. But as soon as I stepped through those doors, I reverted back into my shell. Anita said it best, "some things never change". The cliches were still the cliches and some made you wonder if they left high school at all.

Maybe the 20 yr reunion will be better and I'll attend, but at this point I'm gonna go with a big ol NO.

Thanks for going with me Anita, cause there was NO WAY I could've done that alone.


**Oh and Megan, I wish you were there. Might of made it a little more bearable. =)

Meet Ethan!

So his name is officially Ethan, we just haven't decided on either Amadeus or Scott for a middle name. Ive left it up to Nic, which will probably mean it'll be a delivery room decision.

We had a 3d ultrasound done this weekend. Here are some pics. And that is his foot on his forehead in one of the pics.

The End of an Era

Well I'm officially a stay at home mom. Yesterday I wrapped up 8 yrs of design work at Pulse Creative Partners. It was bittersweet for sure. It'll be nice to be able to stay home with my kids, but on the other hand, it was pretty nice to collect a paycheck from a job I loved.

Most graphic designers will agree that this is not a job that we have to make ourselves do, It's something we truly enjoy. So I will certainly miss the work, but I hope to freelance and keep up my skills that way.

On the stay at home front, I've enrolled Belle and me into MOPS at our church. I hope that we can both meet friends and find people to spend our new found free time with. Belle will start a 6 week preschool class in November and I hope to maybe try out the library story time. I'm sure Belle will love going to all the activities and not being cooped up in my office. =)

Belle's Last Day of Work

Belle with Stefan and Rhaya



Today is Belle's last day at Pulse. It was 2 yrs ago when she was just a little baby that I'd pack her up and bring her to work. I'd wear her around in a sling for the first few months and then wrangled her in with a fence. Today she spends a lot of time watching tv or drawing while I work.

Next week I'll be packing up and Belle will be at Mimi's. I wanted to get a picture of the whole gang, but unfortunately Katie isn't here today for me to include her in the pic. I should've thought of this yesterday.


Here are some oldies but goodies.

Playing Footbelle


Desk Baby


Fenced in Baby

Cats are Weird!!

I forgot just how weird cats are. Kiki is working out well, but she is sneaky, stealthy and downright mean sometimes. But she can be so sweet too and just lounge around on us. We can be sitting on the couch and the cat will come out of nowhere. Even from between the couch cushions



She can sleep anywhere.



And loves to play


Her new favorite thing is to attack my feet in the middle of the night if I try to sneak them out from under the covers.

Oh and we can't forget Belle. She has started picking up the kitty more and playing with it. Which usually results in us telling her to "be nice".


I wish I had a video camera for this one. Belle was laughing hysterically because the cat was playing with her through the window of the dollhouse.

All this for a little more than $5!!

Since I'll no longer have a regular income after the end of the month, I'm trying to find ways to save money, wherever I can. I've started getting into couponing.

Here what I got this week. Check out this blog for some great ideas. I'm such a novice, but still learning.

Target:
Electrosol Tabs 20qty
Regular price is $5.?? each

On sale for buy 2 for $5.68
Use (2) $2.25 off coupons from sunday paper
TOTAL: $1.00 for 2 boxes

Kroger:
Herbal Essense shampoo and conditioner
Regular price is usually $3 something

On sale for 2 for $5
Use $3 off 2 coupon from paper two weeks ago
Total: 4 bottles for $4 ($1.00 each)

Suave Soap
Regular price is $1.99

On sale for $1.67
Use (2) $.50 coupons *
TOTAL: 2 bottles for $1.34
*Kroger will double any coupon up to $.50


The key is to keep your coupons and wait for the items to go on sale, and then use your coupons. I'm also starting to discover CVS and their Extra Bucks. A couple weeks ago I bought several toothpastes ($2.50 each, but earning $2 Extra Care Bucks, so only $.50 in the end) I later used my Extra Care Bucks that I earned to buy 4 ALL Small and Mighty detergents which were Buy One Get One Free for only $3 (Reg. $6.99 each)

ANOTHER DEAL, ALL FOR $3


KROGER
(2) Brownie mix = $1 each
(2) Cottonelle toilet paper = $1 each
(2) Suave deoderant = $1.50 each
TOTAL = $7

Coupons
- $.50 off two Duncan Hines (doubled) = $1
- $.25 off Cottonelle (doubled) = $.50
- $.25 off Cottonelle (doubled) = $.50
- $.50 off Suave deoderant (doubled) = $1
- $.50 off Suave deoderant (doubled) = $1
TOTAL = $4
TOTAL OUT OF POCKET = $3

Only problem is that I was shorted one of my coupons, they didn't scan one of my $.25 coupons. Also missing from the picture is another deoderant where apparently one of my $2 coupons didn't scan. Lesson learned, pay attention to the coupons as the cashier scans them.

KiKi

Ok, so when Belle goes to grandma's & grandpa's, she usually comes back with something. Whether it's a new outfit or a few more bumps and bruises, but this time we got more than we bargained for. A KITTEN!

We had talked about getting Belle a kitten at one point, but figured it wasn't the best time. Guess there is no time like the present.

So here she is. We named her KiKi since Belle calls her kittykitty.

Sadie is doing ok so far with her, the cat really likes her, but the feeling isn't mutal. Hopefully it doesn't drive her completely nuts, cause she's already got one foot in the looney bin as it is.

And apparently this kitty is my new best friend. It is not happy unless I'm sitting down and it's sitting on me. Otherwise it follows me around meowing. Can you get a cat de-meowed?

Our first and last fireworks display

We decided to take Belle to the fireworks display in town. She had been enjoying her nightly fireworks time with daddy, but the big stuff wasn't quite her cup of tea. At home we had the little fountains and snap pops and thought that maybe she's enjoy the a trip to the city's fireworks display.

We had a good time. There were vendors and a concert with everyone sitting in the court of the masonic home waiting for the fireworks. Nic got a lemon shakeup and I got a shaved ice. Belle wasn't too sure about the ice, but quickly confiscated the lemon shakeup.

Once the fireworks started, Belle quickly said "bye bye". She was ready to leave. After a few minutes we packed up and headed home. Poor girl was terrified of them. But once in the safety of the van she was back to her old self. She was a trooper for staying up so late. Maybe next year we'll just come for the festival and leave before the fireworks.

Sneaky reader!

We've been letting Belle go outside by herself and play in the backyard. We leave the door open so she can come and go. But she knows that all toys and books stay inside. Well we caught her one day sneaking books outside to read on the swing.



Ask Belle to give you her "dirty look", and this is what you get.

Bump Progress - 25 weeks

First pic: 24 weeks (2006)
Second pic: 25 weeks

Vote!

<-------------- Alright all you blog stalkers, VOTE!

I thought we had this name thing figured out. But now Nic is having a little doubt. Here are our contenders.

If you're wondering where in the world Amadeus came from, heres the story. Nic came home one day and thought he heard such a great name on the radio (this was when we were preggo with Belle). Once he got home he couldn't remember, but said it was in a song that went "rock me (something)". I busted out laughing, knowing immediately what he was talking about. I do like me some 80s music. It was Falco's song, Rock Me Amadeus. I thought we had to use it, even if only for a middle name.

The idea for Jonah actually came from a friend of mine, Rhaya. One of her friends recently named her boy Jonah. And kinda going on Jonah, Nic thought of Jonas. No, not like the Jonas Brothers. Like the character on Stargate, ha ha we're such nerds (or Nic is atleast). =)

Plastic Surgery for a 2 yr old!

Belle is going to get some work done. Cause you know, it's never too early to work on perfection.

Ha Ha. We just found out at the Dr. today what Belle's bald spot is. It only took two years. We've heard that it was just a manufacturer's defect and that she'll need a far part. But we saw a different doctor in the practice today and quickly told us that it was in fact a Sebaceus Nevus.

What I was suprised to hear, is that it usually has to be removed because it could develop into a tumor after puberty.

So now we're off to a dermatologist to talk about removal. I figure I better get it done now while our deductible will be paid up this year. And the fact that they'll probably have to shave a spot on her head for the surgery. Better to do it now while it won't bother her.

The best news of all is that she'll be rid of her bald spot and won't have to be creative with her hair as she gets older.

A Berry Happy Birthday!

It's hard to believe my baby is two years old. I'm posting a little late, but Belle celebrated her birthday on Saturday. We went to the Strawberry Festival parade and then had a party at Poppy and Mimi's house. Belle LOVED the parade! We might have to make it a yearly event.

Birth Day


One Year


Two Years


Belle did not like the police car sirens in the parade, this was her reaction.


The gang sitting in the rain


Poppy and Belle


She actually ate some of her cake this year, albeit just the icing.

Our Littly Fishy!

Today we started Belle's Aquatots class. I thought for sure she'd have a little freak out when we got in the water. Seeing how last year she refused to even get in the baby pool.

Once we arrived, all the little kiddos were sitting on the bleachers with their parents. Sitting there nicely, ha. We soon learned that we were going to have some *ahem* behavior issues. So we tried to walk around while we waited for class to start. A huge tantrum ensued in front of everyone. All she wanted to do was get in the water, once that happened she was fine.

She was not scared of the water AT ALL. In fact I spent the whole 30 minutes trying to keep her in my arms. Her favorite part was when she had to throw a toy and swim to it and when she got to jump off the edge into my arms. By the end of class I was wore out and my nerves were shot. Nic is getting in next time!

Operation Twin Bed: Sucessfull!!

Belle's room was complete enough to let her sleep in her new twin bed, so we thought we'd get rid of the crib. I had anticipated a harder time with the transition, but it was absolutely uneventful. I think the key was the bed rails, as far as she's concerned she can't get out of bed.

Stay tuned I'll post pictures when her room is more complete.

It's a . . . . .

BOY!!!!!

I'm surprised to say the least. I thought for sure we were having another girl. All the wives tales said so, and you have to believe those things. =) I'm carrying high like Belle, and the heart rate was high. The only difference is that I have horrible acne. The wives tale says that acne means that you're having a girl and she is stealing your beauty. It's really weird looking a back at my last post with the belly shots, I can't believe I was wearing blue. Freaky!

All looks good and it's a good thing we wanted to know the sex, cause he was letting it all hang out. The lady didn't even have to say anything, we all knew it was a boy.

Here is the money shot


I think this is such a sweet shot. He has his hand up by his face and his big ol belly in front. I couldn't believe how big his belly was.


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