4 Month Check Up

Yesterday was Lottie's 4 month check up.  She weighed in at 13 lbs 4 oz and is now 24 inches long.  She is in the 25th % for both weight and height but is proportioned nicely.  She is also right on track with her development.  She smiles, follows objects with her eyes, looks around when she hears our voices, laughs and coos "sings" pretty regularly. 

Next up - RICE CEREAL - we will probably start that in the next week.  The pediatrician said to slowly introduce her to it.  We are going to have to get the video camera out for that!

Last but not least, sweet baby had to have 3 shots - one liquid shot by mouth and one shot in each thigh.  It breaks my heart to see her in pain, but thankfully after a few cuddles, she is back to her old laughing, smiling self again.  She was a trooper!  I wish she was old enough for me to buy her an ice cream afterwards, but I guess that will have to wait a little longer.

Her next appointment is for her 6 month check up - it is scheduled for 8/22/11.

Super Duper Doubles

I did it - I gathered all of my coupons from the last two Charlotte Observers and went for it at Harris Teeter when they advertised Super Doubles on Wednesday.  I went in with the mindset that I would only buy what I had in coupons.  That way there would be no confusion in how much I spent vs how much I saved. 

Well let me show you what I walked out with............................

• I hardly ever eat MAYO!!!!!!!!  If I do, it is in very small portions (coleslaw, pasta salads)
• Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce x 2 - I hope this stuff has an expiration date of 5 or so years b/c I don't forsee this being used until Lottie is old enough to start eating chicken nuggets
• Neosporin To Go pack - "Don't worry Lottie, mama has Neo to go - hope it doesn't expire between now and the time you start walking"
• Chex Mix x 2, Triscuits and Wheat Thins - I'M ON A DIET - WHY DID I PURCHASE THESE?
• Spicy Brown Mustard x 2 - Tailgating????

So, you are probably wondering how much all of this cost me????????

$83.24 - can you believe that the small pile of stuff above cost that much?????  Well, after using my coupons, I saved $49.19 bringing my total to $34.05. 

Which means FAILURE!!!!!!!!!!  I completely failed at COUPONING!  I can't believe I still ended up paying $34.05 for junk!

Moral of the story is - Just because you have a coupon for something, doesn't mean you have to use it especially for things you would normally NEVER buy! 

My coupon days have been numbered!!!!!

Styling and Profiling

Yesterday on my way to pick Lottie up from school, I swung into The Children's Place at the Arboretum to see if I could find another swimsuit for Lottie.  The swimsuit in the pictures below is from The Children's Place and it fits her great.  We have another swimsuit from Target that we tried but it was tooooooooo tight!  It said 12.5 lbs to 18 lbs..............  YEAH RIGHT!!!!  Poor baby had a line going down her side from it being to tight. 

I was so happy when I pulled up to see a sign that said 50% off already reduced prices.  "Yes!!!"

I didn't have much time, but I did get a few cute things.  The onesies were $2.99 each, the romper was $6.50 or $7 and the swimsuit was around $5.00.  I think I might be going back this weekend for a couple more onesies to wear with her jorts this summer.

To view all of their sale items go to The Children's Place

Beach Days

I am obsessed with laying out on the beach.  Ash calls me a beach bum - says she hates going to the beach with me b/c I will sit from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. just roasting away!  I think it goes back to when I was a kid.  My parents were beach addicts as well.  They would literally get down to the beach by 9:00 a.m. and not leave until 5 or 6 in the afternoon.  They would oil themselves up and turn every hour or so.  My dad would people watch (women watch) through his sunglasses or nap and my mom would read Danielle Steele romance novels.  When the heat became unbearable they would take us out to the ocean for some family fun.  Those were some of the best memories.  It seems like so long ago.

Memorial Day weekend was Lottie's first trip to the beach.  I was so excited to see how she would take in the beach, the people, everything (well mainly to see how cute she looked in her little swimsuit).  Of course, she pulled it off!  Thankfully my sister had a canopy we used to prevent Lottie from getting too hot and too much sun.  My cousin Ginger also let us borrow a pop up tent that worked perfect for taking naps.  We had a great time.  Between laying out and eating great food (I finally got me some crab legs!!), I didn't want to come home.  I hadn't had crab in over a year (they say not to have crab when pregnant) so I was estatic to finally grub on crab legs.  They are one of my favs!!!  Here are a few pics from Lottie's first trip to the beach!

This past weekend, I took Lottie down for a girl's weekend with me, Amy and Lottie.  We had a very inexpensive, relaxing weekend!!  Lottie was so cute on the beach!  I think she is going to become a beach bum just like her momma!!  Here are a few pics from our trip to the beach this past weekend!

I just love that smile!  We have been so blessed with such a happy baby!  She is really something!!!  We are supposed to be headed back to the beach for July 4th weekend.  We can't wait!

To Coupon or NOT to Coupon..........

I am in absolute awe of the show "Extreme Couponing" on TLC.  It blows my mind how these families can go into a grocery store and rack up $800.00 worth of groceries and after using all of their coupons walk out only having spent $6.00!!!  I sit there with this look of bewilderment on my face while Steve sits there and laughs at me.  He knows how much I love a bargain and also knows how confused I am by it.  I am having such a hard time getting my head around "COUPONING". 

Why is it that my brain goes to mush when these people start talking about couponing????  It's like a different language!

If I have a coupon for $0.50 off one cheese and a coupon for $1 off two cheeses, can I buy two cheeses and use both coupons?

If I have a $0.50 off one cheese coupon from the Sunday newspaper and a $0.50 off one cheese coupon that I printed from the internet, can I use both on one cheese?

I'M SORRY WHAT???????  All I heard in that was CHEESEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - (YUMMMMMM)

In any event, I'm clearly not ready for any "extreme couponing" but would love to save a few bucks as many times as Steve and I are in and out of the Harris Teeter!  I swear our pay checks are divided between Harris Teeter and Target!

Stay tuned (I hear there is a SUPER DOUBLE COUPON thingamajig about to happen at HT next Wed.)

Hopefully with a little help from my cousin Ginger, I will get this thing down pat!  :)

A Day to Remember

JUNE 13th............. This date will forever by etched in my memory as the day the world lost a great woman.  Each year I wonder what it would be like to have just one more day with her.  Just ONE MORE day!!  I can't believe that 14 years have passed by. 

She was truly an inspiration to me, and someone whom I will never forget!  Her heart was the size of the moon.  She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside!

I love you mom.  I wish you and Dad were here today to see your beautiful granddaughter.  You would be so proud!

We've jumped on the blog bandwagon!!!

Hi all, we have officially jumped on the blog bandwagon...........  WOW!  Hopefully this will help us document our days as new parents and to share what a gift we have been given with our little lady - Lottie!!

Stay tuned..........