My Little Love

Cards

I have done a lot of stuff with making my own greeting cards- those of you who know me “in real life” have probably seen them. My mom also does it… and recently she has been encouraged to start selling the cards she makes. She has had a few offers from people to buy them. Here’s what I’m wondering: Do you think it’s possible to sell handmade cards? If so, how and where? Create a website? And then how to bring traffic to that site?

I will try to scan and get some pictures of stuff posted within the next few days. This is something I have been thinking about for a while- and also I’ve been thinking about creating a blog to show the cards I’ve made. Yeah, I’m a dork

11 hours!

Filed Under Sleep, Three Months | 2 Comments

Bailey went to sleep last night at 9:30 or maybe a few minutes later. This morning I didn’t wake up when Jonathon got ready for work. I woke up at 9 in an absolute panic and ran into Bailey’s room. She was just starting to wake up and begin her journey to the end of her crib. She scoots there every time So she slept over 11 hours without waking/eating!

Cutting Back

Filed Under Books, Family, Thoughts | 3 Comments

I know I have been blabbing about needing to cut back on my activities and just general business. Well I am doing that a little more seriously now. I have been reading this book called When Wallflowers Dance, by Angela Thomas (it’s actually pretty good although slightly cheesy). It’s a lot about focusing on what really matters and cutting out the junk, so that you can enjoy life and live as you were intended to. So I have cut out mystery shopping for the time being, except restaurants and other entertainment type things. I was pushing myself to do too much with that in an attempt to make some extra money. I am working harder at selling on eBay… although my mom’s friend sells on eBay and she had a problem with a spyware related issue recently and blames it on eBay. We use AVG at our house, which is a free spyware/virus thing, instead of Norton. Jonathon is all about the free stuff- like Linux and all that- but anyway now I’m way off topic. What I was saying (or at least getting ready to say) was that I want to do a few things well, instead of a bunch of things halfway decently. I will probably keep doing a little bit of blog advertising because I actually enjoy that and it isn’t very time consuming.

I think one of the reasons I keep filling my life and time with crap is that I am struggling with the issue of being “just a wife and a mom.” I need to realize that I don’t have to be everything to everyone, and it’s okay to just focus on my little family for right now. Sometimes I feel like my world is just so small lately- but I guess that’s not a bad thing. My main responsibility should be to Bailey and Jonathon and sometimes I do so much other crap that I am too overwhelmed or tired to give them what I need to.

But this is getting lengthy and tangent-y and I should probably just go to bed instead of trying to get philosophical with myself so late at night. Thanks for listening, if you even made it to this point.

Some Random New Pictures

Filed Under Grandparents, Parties, Three Months | 3 Comments

Sunday at my dad’s birthday party- he was letting Bailey smash the icing with her fingers

I thought it was time to post some more recent pictures of Bailey… especially since the cute ones of her smiling aren’t showing up sometimes. These were taken in the last few days. The tan baby is my friend Kim’s little girl, Mackenzie.

Not mine anymore

Filed Under Breastfeeding | 3 Comments

Sometimes I wish my boobs could be mine for just a day. I mean not leaking, not too full, not being gnawed on… Right now they are just a bottle, a feeding machine. I wonder if they will ever be viewed the same way again. Too much time is spent dealing with them. Not that I am wanting to wean the Muffin anytime soon, but they would just like an afternoon off. Like a little holiday.

One More Thing

Filed Under Pregnancy, Thoughts | 1 Comment

Sometimes when I see pregnant women I miss being pregnant. I think I forget all the yucky and uncomfortable stuff and remember how nice it was to have my little Muffie in there

And I was like whatever

Filed Under Grandparents, Outings, Three Months | 2 Comments

Today I took Bailey to the pool with a friend of mine and her two kids. We had a nice time and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Then I stopped by Sam’s to pick something up for my mom and to look at this viewsonic monitor Jonathon wants. And for some reason- this is going to sound like a weird complaint- but we were at Sam’s at 12:15 and there was only one sample lady. Normally at lunchtime Sam’s is overrun with samples and you can pretty much eat a whole lunch there as you shop. I was a little disappointed… I wanted to stop by and look at some new home furniture for our downstairs (if we ever get it recarpeted that is) on my way home but then I remembered I was wearing a swimsuit with a tank top and a short cotton skirt. Didn’t think they’d take me too seriously with pool hair and a baby! But we seriously have to get working on this downstairs. I want it ready to be a “play area” before Bailey is crawling. And God Bless RGIS and all the other companies I do random work for here and there- they all must use decent payroll software because I never have problems getting paid on time with any of them. I have to sit down and pay some bills too later today.

But we went home and took a long nap- I think she was worn out from the pool- and then I found out Jonathon was going to work late so my mom and I decided to go shopping. Bailey got a new sunsuit in 3-6 month (most of her 0-3s are FINALLY getting small on her) and she got a new book for at Grammy’s house

Then we went by my grandparents to visit them and my grandma gave her a new stuffed kitty. She sure is a loved little girl. But then my grandpa started in on how I shouldn’t have taken her to the pool, she was too little, blah blah blah. Um, she had on about nine layers of sunscreen, a hat, and glasses, and we were in the shade. For less than an hour I think. Anyway….

Then my grandpa started telling this story about how he went to Silky’s to get ice cream today and they tried to charge him 28 cents tax and he told them that was ridiculous and he wasn’t going to pay it. He said he would give them 20 cents because he had two dimes, but that he wasn’t breaking a whole dollar for 8 cents. And he got away with it. What is with old men? They think they can just do whatever and people let them do it. I feel sorry for whoever was working.

Then it was time for us to go home so I could get Bailey ready for bed and she was starting to fuss. My grandpa goes, “Get that brat out of here and put her to bed.” Ug. My grandparents have their good days and their bad days. I never know what to expect so it makes me hesitant to stop by and visit.

Smiles

Filed Under Three Months | 4 Comments

And to think that I was ever worried about her not smiling enough… she smiles all the time now and it is usually accompanied by some cute baby noises and cooing. Also her new sound that she makes a lot is “maaaa maaaaa” but obviously not “mama” and doesn’t seem to have a purpose other than to be a fun noise

Grant’s Farm Trip

Filed Under Outings, Three Months | 2 Comments

These are pictures from Bailey’s first trip to Grant’s Farm. We have been meaning to go for a long time, but I seriously hate hot weather. We had to wait for a day when it was cool enough for me to stand it. I don’t like to sweat. And I don’t just glisten, I sweat. Anyway we went one day last week with our playgroup, but I forgot to post the pictures. We bought a season parking pass, so hopefully we will have many more cool days when we can go again. It’s open until the end of October, so even if we don’t get to go much over the summer, I’m sure we will go in the fall. Especially when all the big kids are back in school and it’s less crowded.

These first two pictures were taken on the tram that takes you into the park. Bailey didn’t quite know what to think. At first it was a little breezy and she kept opening and closing her mouth . It reminded me of a dog biting at the wind only much cuter. Then she decided it was a good place for a nap. I had her in the sling and she slept through most of the tram ride and then most of the park.

This one is for my friend Jen. She loves elephants and they have a new baby one at GF this summer!

Relaxing after walking around the park- Bailey with one of the moms from our playgroup, who is expecting her second boy in September (I think).

Jonathon’s loans

Filed Under Input Needed, Money | 3 Comments

Does anyone know anything about student loan consolidation? We only have one student loan but it’s enough that it annoys me. We constantly get the letters in the mail about consolidating. Someone at my bank (our mortgage person) recommended NOT doing this because then the interest is no longer deductible because it’s not considered a student loan anymore… but that’s really the only input I’ve had so far. It just sucks because over the past few years the interest rate on it has gradually risen to a little over 8 percent!

Any advice?

Adventures in Babysitting

Filed Under Daddy | 4 Comments

So here’s a kind of funny thing. The other night Jonathon and I got in a *discussion* about him watching Bailey. He never watches her for more than a few hours while I am out. I mean, because that’s all I need him to watch her for, not because he won’t. I am guessing he spends about half the time playing with her/feeding her and the other half sitting on the couch holding her while he watches tv. That’s fine with me at this point. I know he faces her away from the tv and honestly she’s hard to entertain for long periods when she’s awake, and then she gets overstimulated and fussy anyway.

BUT what I am saying is that I think he doesn’t know what it’s like to be alone with her all day and try to come up with things to do with her all day when we’re at home and don’t have anywhere to go.

So I told him that next time he takes some vacation days he is spending two or three days in a row with her from 8-4 like I do when he’s at work. I am going to go shopping or go sit at my mom’s house and read a book or something. Not so much for me to get away from Bailey, but so that he can see what it’s like with her all day. I just think he doesn’t realize.

So I asked him what he was going to do with her all day on those days. He was like, “Well I’ll probably sleep a lot.” I asked him what he was going to do with the baby while he slept. “I’ll just put her in bed with me and let her lay there while I sleep.” (Looks at me hoping for my approval) AHA! So THAT’S what he thinks I do all day. Is he in for a shock!

Wordless Wednesday- Swimming and birthday party

Filed Under Parties, Two Months, Wordless Wednesday | 8 Comments

First trip to the pool- Aquaport for a church volunteer appreciation event

These pictures were taken at Alison’s 3rd birthday party. She’s the little girl I used to take care of, so it was fun to see her and her family again! I can’t believe how big she’s gotten.

Three Months Old

Filed Under Breastfeeding, Daddy, Milestones, Three Months | 3 Comments

Hi, little sweetie. I can’t believe you are growing so fast… Happy three months of being out of mommy! You are the best thing that has happened to us. You have completely turned our lives upside down but in the most wonderful way!

You are “talking” like crazy now and smiling at everyone. You still love your butterfly mobile above your bed and you yell at it when it stops moving. You are quickly becoming an expert at rolling from your tummy to back, but so far we think you only roll to your right. Your legs are so busy and just kick nonstop. You have been kicking mommy’s arm lately while I’m nursing you. Speaking of nursing, you are doing great. You only get about 4-6 oz of formula a day (sometimes less) and I am so happy with that. Look how far we’ve come!

Your daddy is totally in love with you and plays with you every chance he gets. You love when he makes funny noises and faces. Daddy can entertain you so much better than I can. You go to sleep on your own (still!) when we put you in your crib. Just about a week ago you FINALLY started being able to sleep without your swaddle wrap. One day you put up a fight and that was the end of it.

You like to lick anything that gets near your mouth. If you are facing forward in your sling you chew on it. Your hands are constantly drooly lately and they have become your new best friend. They are always in your mouth- never your thumb but mostly your first two fingers on either hand. You are getting close to outgrowing your Size 1 diapers but you still fit into all your 0-3 month clothes. We have started putting you in some 3-6 month things just to make sure you get some wear out of them before it gets cold! You haven’t had a big pukey spit-up in a few weeks now. I’m not positive but I think that coincides with the time that we switched from Similac to Enfamil.

Baby Einstein is still a hit, although you will stretch your neck around to try to watch anything that happens to be on tv. You are also really starting to take an interest in your books. Some of our favorites are God Must Really Love Colors, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and The Going To Bed Book. You are (maybe) starting to lose your fascination with the chandelier and the grandmother clock at Grammy’s house.

We can’t wait to see what this month has in store for us. Who would have known that you would be this much fun?!?

I took another comparison picture to show how much you have grown and changed.

Bailey was just lost inside this shirt at the hospital- this was the day she was born.

And now here she is at three months old and she hasn’t worn this since we’ve gotten home but I wanted to put it on her just for fun and she was totally busting out of it

Bailey’s Dedication at Church

Filed Under Church, Parties, Two Months | 3 Comments

Bailey was dedicated this morning at our church, so I wanted to get a bunch of pictures posted for everyone. She is wearing a gown and bonnet that my mom’s friend made- I loved it but I also thought it was a little over the top But when else can you do this?

Getting a little stressd about the whole bonnet situation…

And here is the dedication itself- there were two other babies being dedicated (different from infant baptism because water isn’t used- this is just a symbol of the commitment on the part of the parents and the church). There were two other babies being dedicated today as well.

We had a lunch at our house today after church, just for family and a few friends. Here are some pictures from Bailey’s first “party.”