Applesauce for Isabella!

Today was a big day in our house! Miss Isabella had her first taste of "real" food AKA baby food!

She had some applesauce! She did okay with it... she is not really sure how to use a spoon yet, but she will get there! I snapped 3 quick pictures... She doesn't look so happy in them! haha

We will do a veggie next and alternate introducing new fruits and vegetables. :)

Happy Friday, everyone!!!

Twenty-Eight

Yesterday was Jared's 28th Birthday! It was fun because he was off work so we got to spend the whole day as a family! I did all the "paci-put backs" (all 15+ of them!) so he could get a full, good night's sleep. Then, I woke up early with Isabella so he could sleep in. (if you call sleeping till 8:00AM sleeping in!) When he woke up, I made bacon and pancakes for breakfast. He got to relax and watch TV and hang out with me, Jayden, and Bella. Fred had a grooming appointment, so Jared took Fred to Petsmart to drop him off for his haircut. When he came home, he brought me a surprise!!!! He is seriously the nicest guy on the PLANET....I mean, what guy stops at Jared Jewelers on his way home ON HIS OWN BIRTHDAY to pick up a charm for my Pandora bracelet????? JARED does!! Obviously, I did not ask for this at all and had no clue, but he is just such a sweet and thoughtful guy. :) Anyway, that was so nice of him. After he came home, we had lunch together- he grilled chicken for chicken sandwiches. I got some cleaning and laundry done while Jared played with Jayden and Isabella was sleeping. Jayden helped Jared open his birthday presents from us. We got him a nice new pair of work shoes, a new long sleeve red (Target) work shirt, and an electric toothbrush. He liked everything! :)

Later in the afternoon. Jared wanted to take Jayden to Kohl's to look for new shoes with Jayden. They had some quality father/son time and Jared found a cool pair of shoes for Jayden on sale for $7!!!

Last night, we met the whole family at Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Jared's mom, my parents, Stacy, Norm, and Kristen all met at the restaurant and it was really fun! That is seriously one of our favorite places ever. The rolls are amazing!!! The salads are SO gooooood!!! And steak and loaded mashed potatoes....oh gosh! DELICIOUS! :)

I only took 2 pictures because my camera battery was pretty much dead. But, here is a picture of me, Isabella, Stacy, and Kristen while we were waiting for our table.


My mom told the waitress that it was Jared's birthday, so a bunch of waiters and waitresses came over and did the whole Texas Yee Haw!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, thoughtful, caring, kind, loving, supportive, amazing husband!!! My high school sweetheart, best friend, love of my life, JARED!!! You continue to amaze me as a wonderful person, husband, and father every day.... love you so much!

the celebration will continue in NYC!!!!

:)

Pinterest Project #1

Project # 1 Complete!



I finally became addicted to PINTEREST! My cousin Debbie showed me what it was when she visited in October and I thought it was awesome, but I just did not really find the time to get into it. In the past few weeks, I have really started exploring it and finding cool things! I am actually quite addicted! haha

My friend Jennifer found an AWESOME menu board and I was immediately excited about it because I have been menu planning for the past couple weeks and this is EXACTLY what I needed. I couldn't wait to get started on this project!

Here is the one she found on pinterest: I love love love it!!!


So, I went and bought a frame. (that's the only item I did not already have for this project) I already had scrapbook paper to use for the background and to cover the clothespins. I just used index cards and typed out meals we eat and printed them on labels. The box that I stuck to the frame to keep all the menu cards is a Kraft Mac n' Cheese box that I cut and covered with scrapbook paper.

On the front of the card is the meal. On the back I put the items needed.

I also added a special touch...just to make it our own! hahaha Can you see what it is?

Yep, that's our faces! I cut out a picture of Jared's face and my face to add to the board!

Yesterday, (Sunday), I layed out all my cards and planned out our menu. Then went to the grocery store and purchased what I needed for the week. I did make an adjustment to the menu when I got home because chicken was on a really good sale so I switched out and added another chicken meal. All I had to do was switch the card! easy as 1-2-3!

I am also going to get my cards laminated so they will last for a long time! :)

...and I cut out blank ones so I can expand on my dinner ideas..... so if you have dinner ideas, please send to me!

I love it!!

ugh!

potty update:

Potty Training is not going well....actually it is pretty much just not going at all.

He is sitting on the potty a lot...for like 45 mins at a time...with drinks, right after naps and first thing in the morning.... still no more pee pee! He prefers diapers.

Oh well, I guess I had my hopes up since he went twice the other day. I'm not stressing out about it though. We will get there eventually! :)

PAACK pix

Last Saturday night we had a PAACK dinner! PAACK stands for Paige, Ainsilie, Ashley, Cindy, and Kendall. We lived together in college for 2 years. We were in need of PAACK catch up time and it was so nice to get together! We ate at Texas Roadhouse!!!




We have taken a lot of PAACK pictures over the years, but here are a few I found really quick on my computer...

PAACK - Radford University Graduation in May 2006




my Bridal Shower October 2006



my wedding December 2006



...Paige caught the bouquet!




@ Kendall's wedding April 2008




my Baby Shower with Jayden July 2009




Ashley's Wedding June 2010
PAACK (yes, we are cool and we spelled out PAACK with our arms!)






Ainsilie's Bridal Shower May 2010



Ainsilie's Wedding July 2010




Paige is getting married this summer so we will have to get another PAACK picture at her wedding! :) YAY

Love these girls!

Jayden Peed on the Potty!!!

Jayden went pee pee on the potty for the first time today!!! He sits on the potty here and there, but we really have not started potty training him at all yet...

Today Jayden was sitting on the potty watching Finding Nemo in the living room, and Jared was really encouraging Jayden to go pee pee or poo poo. Typically, Jayden goes in the office and closes the door when he goes potty in his diaper. So, Jared decided to take Jayden's potty chair into the office. He told Jayden to go sit in there so he could have some privacy. Jayden happily went into the office and sat on the potty. Jared told Jayden he would come back to check on him in a minute and he closed the door. We laughed and said it would be a miracle if he actually went.

Jared opened the door and went back in to check on Jayden. The potty had pee pee in it!!! We were so happy and so excited! Jayden loved how happy we were and he was really excited. We told him he could have a treat and he wanted a lollipop! Thankfully, I had one lollipop to give him! We showed Jayden how we flush the pee pee in the toilet and washed our hands. Then, Jayden called his Nana and told her that he went pee pee on the potty!

About five or ten minutes later, Jayden said he wanted to go potty again! So, Jared took off Jayden's diaper and Jayden sat on the potty. The door was closed and we heard a little voice say, "Daddy! Daddy look!"

He went pee pee again!!! This time it was just a small amount, but still we were so excited!!!

I guess we are officially potty training now!!! And I guess Jared's idea of putting the potty in the office was a good one! (I admit I was wrong, Jared- haha! [I had told him that was never going to work because Jayden was in the middle of watching Nemo and I did not think he would want to leave!])

We will see how this potty training thing goes.... wish us luck! :)

Oh, and here was a pic I took on my phone before the potty chair was moved into the office. Jayden is on his potty and Isabella is on her bumbo seat.

Isabella- 5 months

Jayden- 2 years 5 months

Monday

I had to start off with that picture. I love it (minues the quality of the image!) Of course out of all the pictures I took, my favorite one turned out all weird looking! Oh well!

It's Monday and Jared is at work. He had to close last night so he did not get home until late and then get up early again this morning. So, I was a nice wifey and made him a to-go breakfast and a nice big salad for him to take for lunch. Hope he likes it!

I am just hanging out with the kiddos this morning. Jayden really loves to sit with Bella. I took some pictures of them together this morning on the couch......






Jayden still occasionally gets out the ol' zebra to ride. haha He's looking a little too big for it these days, but he still has fun with it!



Isabella is loving her jumparoo. This was always one of Jayden's favorites! She spends more and more time in it and has a blast! Of course, Jayden is right there with her! :)






I love her little legs bouncing in her jumparoo!


Jayden decided to make a huge train and have Charlie (the battery operated train) pull all the others around the house.



We are looking forward to a playdate this afternoon with Sienna! :)

Yesterday, Jared watched the kids while I went grocery shopping. I planned out all of our meals for the next week and went to get everything I needed. This morning, I prepared our dinner for tonight.... chicken and veggies in the crock pot!



It is such an easy meal to make (just takes a while to wash/peel/cut everything up). It is chicken, broccoli, corn, potatoes, carrots, onion, chicken broth and water....all mixed together and cooked slowly all day long. It is GOOOOD! :)



I am going to make some crescent rolls to go with it! Oh, and it makes the house smell so good all day as it cooks! :)

I'm still into playing Words with Friends. I had a really awesome words the other night in my game against Norm. QUESTS... and it just so happened that the Q (worth 10 points was on a Triple Letter!!! =30 points) and the word also sat on a TW-triple WORD!!!)


In case you couldn't see................QUESTS gave me 114 points!!!! It is a good word/move to get 20 points so I was so proud of getting 114 points. I took a picture because I know that will NEVER happen again!!! ha

Norm accidentally clicked resign after that. LOL (he really did...and he did not mean to....the recall button is right next to resign...at least I snapped these pictures before he resigned!!

Happy Monday everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Addicted

I AM ADDICTED!

If you have a smart phone...and you like Scrabble, you need to download THIS:


it's so much fun!


If you like hangman (and scrabble), you need to play THIS:







SO MUCH FUN!

now back to words with friends.......................

Resolutions

As we begin a new year, everyone is talking about their "New Year Resolutions!" I have never really had resolutions, but I thought I would write down some of the things I want to do/continue to do through 2012! These are in no particular order at all. Just a few things I've been thinking about when I think of my own "resolutions" ...................................

1. Make one night a week (at least) a date night with just me and jared...not even like a date where we get dressed up and go out... just quality time-talk, watch a movie or TV show, play a game, something just us! We pretty much do this every day, but I want to make sure to keep that up because it is important for all relationships! We focus so much of ourselves on our kids it is important we have time for eachother, too!

2. Diet and exercise. Yeah, this is one that is on a lot of people's resoultion list, but it is something needed for me since I have had two kids (and never lost all the baby weight from the first kid then had another) I keep putting off exercising, but I am working to MAKE time for it!

3. Plan out meals in advance. This is something I have tried before and it worked SO WELL. The problem was I only did it for one week and then we were back to our usual ways of deciding what we want at the last minute and running to the store to buy the "ingredients" OR we resorted to Car Side To-Go or Fast Food. This will help save time, money, stress, and will help with #2.

4. Stop going to the grocery store almost daily. This goes back to #3 (and #2). If I have our meals planned out, we will have everything needed and I can have meals prepared when Jared gets home from work. (healthier meals)

5. Use coupons and shop smart. Jared is really good at finding things on clearance because he works all day at a Target store and finds deals on everything. But, I admit that I am quite the impulse shopper who sees something I like and buys it without really thinking. I am definitely getting better about making grocery list and clipping coupons...and finding coupons online. But, I could be better. A LOT better. And I love checking out when I have a bunch of coupons on the items I needed. :)

6. Stop buying so many headbands for Bella. I get suckered in every time I see a cute bow or flower hearband. I love them and I love dressing Bella up. But, we have many of them and I should just save the bow money for college funds- or groceries and diapers and formula!

7. Worry less. Not that I consider myself a "worry wart" or anything, but I want to spend my life not worrying so much about the small things...

8. Blog more. I hate when I haven't blogged in months and then I am trying to play "catch-up" on what's been going on!

9. Catch up on Bella's baby book. And KEEP up with her calendar. I love Jayden's baby book and I want to make sure Bella has one just as great! I have worked in it a lot, but not as much as I want. Also, I have the same calendar for Bella that I had for Jayden. I wrote something for every single day of his first year- doctor appts, visitors, something we did, special moments, etc. I am not too far behind in Bella's book, but I find myself writing for a week's worth of time at a time. If I could just do it every other day it would be much easier on my brain! (pregnancy brain doesn't really ever get better even after the baby comes)

10. Watch movies! I love watching movies and we used to watch movies all the time. Obviously, kids and family time are more important than watching movies, but I LOVE watching movies. In the past week, after the kids have gone to bed (well, at least Jayden!) we have watched 4 movies!!!! It has been awesome. Redbox rocks!

11. Spend lots of time with family! My family is really close and we spend a lot of time together. I always want to keep a close family...we always have so much fun playing games together-and just being together! :)

12. Stop wearing PJs all day. Just because I am a stay-at-home mom, it doesn't mean that I should not shower all day until Jared gets home and just sit around the house in PJs. I had an excuse when Bella was a newborn and very "needy," but now she is 5 months old and able to play on the floor, jumparoo, exersaucer. I will feel better about myself, too, if I start my day with a nice shower and take a few minutes to get myself ready!

13. Remember to tell Jared thank you every day for working so hard so that I can stay home and take care of our kids. I know I don't thank him enough, but I hope he knows how much I appreciate all he does for me and our family. I am so grateful that I am able to stay home. I am grateful for such an amazing husband...............seriously, AMAZING!


I am sure there are a million other things, but that's all for now! I am off to balance the checkbook and pay bills before Jayden wakes up! :)

If you have resolutions, I wish you luck with them and keeping up with them all year! Happy 2012!

One more thing--I am really excited for the next couple weeks. I have a few days coming up of seeing old good friends that I have not seen in a while. I can't wait!!! <3

Thursday Morning Baby Time

I don't know who has more fun on our "baby playdates" - the babies, or the mommies!

I love having Torie come over to hang out and talk while our cute baby girls play! AKA take turns eating, sleeping, and smiling together! Bella and Lila are only 5 days apart. (Bella 8/4/11 and Lila 8/9/11)

We had a fun morning with the girls (and Jayden!) Thanks for coming over to play, Lila and Torie! :)

She's 5 months old!

Our little Tinkerbell is 5 months old! I can't even begin to describe how much Bella has changed in the last 5 months. She went from SCREAMING for hours and hours any time she was awake to now laughing and smiling so much! She is such a sweet and squirmy baby girl and we love her to pieces!!!

A couple days ago, we gave her a little bit of rice cereal on a spoon. She has actually had rice cereal in her bottles (every bottle) since she was just 6 weeks old. The doctor had us do that to thicken her bottles to help with her reflux. So, this was not a "new food" for her, but it was new to have it on a spoon! :) She did not really not know what to do with a spoon, so she did not get much at all, but we will keep trying!



Eating: Isabella eats 4 ounces about every 3-4ish hours. She is on half Alimentum and half regular Similac formula. She has been on the special (and expensive!) formula called Alimentum for food allergies and colic due to protein sensitivity. That formula plus the Nexium (medicine that she takes for her reflux) has been great! She became a much happier baby once we found the correct medicine and formula with the help of some great doctors! Then, one GI doctor we saw said we could try to ween her off of the Alimentum and work towards regular Similac...so we did 2 oz Alimentum/ 1 oz regular for a while, then 2 oz regular/1 oz Alimentum, until she was ready for all 3 oz. to be regular Similac. After abot 24 hours of regular, she was back at square one...SCREAMING all the time, spitting up a LOT all the time, miserable... So, we went back to half Alimentum/half regular Similac which works for her! The doctors told us that is fine and we are not the only ones out there who do a combination! It works for Bella's tummy. It works for us. Anyway, she went from 3 oz. to 4 oz with 2 TBS of rice cereal to thicken. She eats approximately 24 ounces per day (6 4oz bottles -ish!)

Sleeping: Isabella is a huge cat-napper during the day! We have a pack n' play set up in the living room and when Bella looks sleepy, she just lays in there and falls asleep holding her little pink elephant blankie square! She takes frequent short (like 20-30 min) naps throughout the day. At night, she does great! At 3 months old, Bella started sleeping through the night. She has been pretty consistent almost every night since turning 3 months old. She goes to sleep between 10 and 11 PM and sleeps until about 7 AM. Now, that is with a lot of "paci put backs." She has been sleeping in our bedroom in her nap nanny in a cradle right next to our bed. It makes it easy for the paci put backs because I can just roll over, put it in, and go right back to sleep.

Last night, (1/3/12) was Bella's first night in her own bedroom in her crib! She did amazing!!! She went to bed around 10:00PM and woke up at 7:20AM. She got a white noise machine from Santa and that was on all night. She fell asleep listening to lullaby music. She did cry several times, but it was just a "Where is my paci?" cry not a real cry. Like, she never actually WOKE UP crying kinda cry. I just ran in there and gave her the paci and she would go right back to sleep. When she woke up this morning at 7:20, she was just making these cute little noises. I did not even go in there immediately, but when I went in to get her, she was just happy as can be and smiling! She did it! She has graduated from the cradle/nap nanny to her own crib in her own room!!! I have the video monitor right beside me and she has her Angel Care monitor on. Nana gave that to us when she was having all of her scary choking episodes so we could hear an alarm if she ever were to stop breathing while sleeping.

She LOVES her brother so much. And Jayden LOVES her so much! Seriously, they are best buds. I love it!


We were getting ready to go outside in the COOOOOLLLLDDDD weather!! She was nice and warm in her bear suit! :)

She is getting better and better at sitting up (with supports!) Here she is sitting in her bumbo seat:

And this morning it was time for the big five month photo shoot!!! In her Snowman dress (for January!) Speaking of snow, she got to be outside yesterday in her first snow... not real snow, but heavy flurries! :) Santa brought Jayden and Bella sleds for Christmas this year, so we are ready for some REAL snow!!!

...and on the rug!

Happy 5 month birthday, sweet Isabella!!! <3