Sunday Update

Today was a whirlwind of visiting family!

First we started at my Aunt's house (Hi! I know you are reading this:) and scooter had a grand old time there. She met her first dog (that she called cat the whole time) and lived through it. She was really scared of him in the beginning but warmed up to him a little later on.

Then we went to my Great-Aunt's house. She made a quilt for Natalie and she is 90 years old! It is little triangles, I will post a picture tomorrow. I accidentally left it in the car and I think it is negative 100 out there! It is a rainbow of colors, I am going to hang it on the wall, its one of those things you don't want to mess up you know?

Then we were off to my Grandparent's house. And of course the baby was zonked out by then. So she slept on the sofa for an hour and played for 10 minutes then we had to head out because they were going to church.

A little bit of chicken and a little bit of fruit later and boom! she's out like a light again!

Keep in mind she is slouching in this pic. My child went from 3/6 month clothes in China a month ago to size 18 month today. WOW

Baggy, but the length is great.

Scooter...scooting along

Her two new friends, Mr Panda and Mr Sun!

If Mama says no and Nana says no, ask Aunt Jane! (she isn't really drinking this, she is chewing on the cold closed can).

She loves her new panda, I got it yesterday at the church. It was yucky and had a weird bow on it. I took off the bow and put it in the washer and now its very cute and fluffy! I am rather proud of the baby's outfit too, I love it! $3.25 total and it is Osh Kosh and Baby Gap. So sweet in her overalls!

Some of the best things ARE free...

And the rest is $47 :)

Today there was a really huge swap meet sort of thing at a local church. The catch? It was free. No really, it was. I wasn't expecting such a huge amount of stuff, thousands of things.

So of course I run to the baby section. Just missed getting another exersaucer (scooter gets bored I think, I am looking for another one to swap out every couple of days) but we got a walker. Remember the things before exersaucers? I didn't even think they made them anymore but after a clorox wipe, it looks new. I guess someone is still making them :)

Ok, not to sound like a major free loot hog, let me just tell you of my finds! 6 cloth diapers, 3 flannel blankets to cut up for wipes, 2 thermal blankets, a winter coat for next year (sooo cute), 2 velour jogging suits in pink, a plaid dress, a blue sweater, a gymboree by the sea dress! I about died! Ok, onward, a picture frame, a soft cloth book, a pink babiesrus bear, a baby einstein little book toy, a fisher price small toy, a frog pillow head thingy, several shirts for my dad, a frog teether thingy, a panda, overalls, a dora christmas outfit, a ralph lauren jumper, 3 three piece baby bikini set, a green summer purse, a bag of alphabet magnets for the fridge and a much needed white crib sheet!

So I start to feel guilty, but the helpers there were giving me things left and right. I guess it helps bringing your baby with you, she is such a ham. There is suppose to be another one sometime this summer and they were like come, please come! More free stuff? Ok if I HAVE to! ha!

Whew, ok so after that buzz, we went to McDs and scooter had pancakes. And charmed the whole place. She likes men, especially if they have beards. She'd take a bit of pancake, flirt, take a bite, flirt...I'm in trouble!

Then we head to the mall. I wanted to check out Gymboree and get some panda stuff (so love that panda stuff!) They just had one pair of teeny tiny shoes. So sad!

But I did get her an outfit for next year. I got a pair of jeans, a top, leggings and hairbows. $25.00 - ouch compared to just a few hours prior. The to baby gap where she got a pair of skinny jeans, two pairs of close fitting jammies and a nightgown. The nightgown and one pair of jammies were size 4, when they are just $3 and $4, you buy bigger sizes for later on. Total spent on all the clothes was $47 :)

And of course in Kim fashion, I took pictures of the new clothes!



TADA!

Friday Update

Just some pictures from the day :)

I don't think this elephant is in production anymore. If you see it at a yard sale, distract your child and run away. Far far away. It's little song gets into your mind and will NOT go away!


Hey hey hey.. I'm playing here!


HA! SHE is asleep, it's mine all mine! (BTW, Marie loves the baby, I just make her sound sinister, I have very little adult interaction nowadays)


Posin with my peeps!



This has to be one of my favorite pictures. You can see all the cat personalities. She is sitting on easy going Wookie. Marie just wants to be where she is. Jack is sniffing her (he is Sargent stinky butt, he alerts me to all things stinky) and Monkey can't stand it and has to look down from her perch to see what is going on. And before you think poorly of me for having 4 cats, don't forget that Punkin was sitting on my lap during that pic. HA!

More Deals

I promise, I have gotten other stuff done today besides being on this PC :)

I've been thinking about Valentines Day. My Dad always got me something, I am thinking about getting Natalie something too. I am considering a charm bracelet so I can add a charm each year. Maybe start with a baby version and buy a larger bracelet as she grows. Limoges Jewelry has some cute stuff. Do you think a charm bracelet is a good idea?

I found other deals online. I didn't realize there were so many coupons out there for Target. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be less expensive for me to shop online and spend the $50 needed to use a lot of the free shipping codes. No impulse purchasing plus I could shop in my PJS (and in a good way, not the I'm wearing flannel PJ pants to Walmart and it's obvious and everyone should just look away - why do people wear them in public?).

Actually they have a ton of codes Coupon Chief if you are looking for Vday presents for anyone :)

CVS Deals are Out :)

I am getting back into CVS deals. They are a lot of fun and you can get a lot of things for free!

CVS ECB Deals - Sales for Week 1/20/08-1/26/08

---

Be sure to check out ttp://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...splay.php?f=62 and http://deals.families.com/cvs,f533 for a more thorough list of upcoming sales and a match up to coupons out there for their products!!

ECB Specials (All limit 1 unless noted) VP = Value Pack
$1 ECB WYB Claritin $8.99 (limit 1)
$1 ECB WYB Two (2) CVS/pharmacy Cotton (balls,pads,squares & prem round or oval (limit 1)
$2 ECB WYB Secret or Gillette Clinical Strength $9.99 (limit 1)
$6 ECB WYB Gillette Fusion Power $9.99 (limit 1)
$5 ECB WYB Gillette Fusion Manual $8.99 (limit 1)
$10 ECB WYB ACCU-CHEK Compact Diabetes Monitor $29.99 (limit 1)
$5 ECB WYB $15 of EOB Bath Products (limit 1)
$10 ECB WYB $20 Pepsi Co. products –Pepsi 3/10, Doritos or Lay's 2/$6, Gatorade 32oz or Propel 1 liter 3/$4, 2 liters 4/$5, Stacy's Pita Chips 2/$5 - this is a monthly so if you did it already you are at the limit! (limit 1)
$5 ECB WYB $20 P&G items (limit 1)
$5 ECB WYB $20 Olay Skin Care(limit 1)

$2 ECB WYB Crest Pro Health VP $7.49(limit 2)
$3 ECB WYB Listerine Whitening Strips $23.99 (limit 2)

$2 ECB WYB CVS Storage or Trash Bags Twin VP (limit 3)
$5 ECB WYB Skin Effects Skincare Product (limit 3)

$1 ECB WYB Mars Six Packs - Snickers, MilkyWay or 3 Musk - $2.99 (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB 5 Gum- $3.99 (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB Neutrogena VP (limit 5)
$1 ECB WYB CVS Baby Wipes 240 ct. - $5.29 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB Lysol Spray Bonus $6.99(limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB Irish Spring VP $4.99 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB Softsoap Cashmere or Nutra Oil Body Wash VP $6.99 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap VP $4.99 (limit 5)
$2 ECB WYB Cottonelle Bonus Pack $9.99 (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB PlugIns Scented Oil Plugins Fan or Refill VP $7.99 (limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB Cottonelle Moist Wipes Combo VP $5.98(limit 5)
$3 ECB WYB Dove Adv Therapy VP $9.98 (limit 5)
$3.99 ECB WYB Mennen Speed Stick for men 24/7 - $3.99 (limit 5)
$4 ECB WYB Four (4) SoyJoy Bars (limit 5)
$5 ECB WYB Any Rogaine Single Pack (limit 5)
$5 ECB WYB Dexatrim Max2O $19.99 (limit 5)
$5 ECB WYB Excedrin 250 ct or Benefiber 48-100 ct (limit 5)
$5 ECB WYB $15 of CoverGirl Lashblast, VolumeExact, LashExact , or LineExact Mascara (limit 5)

Buy ONE Get ONE FREE
M&M's Chocolate Candy 12.6-14 oz
Post Cereal - Honey Bunches, Shredded Wheat, Grape-Nuts Trail Mix Crunch, Cocoa or Fruity Pebbles
Russell Stover Chocolates 24 oz. assorted types
All Watches
CVS Cleaning Pads or Cloths or duster with handle with 6 refills
CoverGirl TruShine or Incredifull Lipcolor
All Maybelline Lip Color, Eye Shadow, Liner or Mascera
All L'Oreal HIP
All Natrol Supplements
All CVS Glucosamine Chondroitin and Calcium Supplements
Life Fitness Vitamins or Supplements

Buy ONE Get ONE 50% off
Altoids Tin
Photo Frame or Album (excludes digital photo frame)
Adult & Child Sunglasses
All Befine Skin Care
Physicians Formula - Foundation, powder, bronzer, blush or concealer
CoverGirl Lipcolor - Continuous color, continuous shimmer or wetslicks lip gloss
CoverGirl Shadows, Liners or Mascara
John Frieda Frizz-Ease, Sheer Blonde, Brilliant Brunette or Radiant Red - shampoo, conditioner, styler, or serum
Neutrogena Men's - Face wash, scrub, shave cream or razor defense lotion (excludes gel)
All L'eggs Sheer Hosiery
Bic Disposable Razors - Comfort 3 Advance or Soleil 4 ct

Don't forget!!! When in doubt and they are out, get a RAINCHECK! they can be used at ANY store and DO NOT EXPIRE!!!

Any questions regarding the ECB program please browse through our 1st thread at:http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1378963

Abbreviations:
ECB = Extra Care Buck
PSA = Prices starting at
CRT = Cash Register Tape
WYB = When You Buy

Helpful websites!!!
http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/extracarehome
http://deals.families.com/cvs,f533
http://www.terismessageboard.com/showthread.php?t=13237
http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...splay.php?f=62

All information is compiled from various sources - other forums, friends, family, personal experience, and the actual ads themselves. My location is in central MA as well as others are country wide, so keep this in mind when reading posts and be sure to confirm your local ad as well before actual shopping. Happy ECB'ing!

2008 Savings

I know lately I've been talking a lot about money. I am not sure why, but it has been something that has been running through my mind a lot lately. I don't know if I am just circling my wagons (panicking) or what.

Or it might just be that it's one of my favorite things to think about. After Natalie of course! And the cats, love them too. And the beach. And cruises.....

Ok back on subject now. I have a goal for 2008. I want to save 50% of my tax home pay. This wouldn't be that hard (I don't have a lot of bills) except for Natalie's added expenses.

This challenge (it's more fun to think of it that way) is in the back of my mind constantly it seems. Things like cloth diapers are good for the world and good for the wallet (I am a tree hugger at heart), a savings of $600 for a year. Natalie's formula isn't really that expensive now (I'll admit it, she is drinking the Parent Choice stuff with no ill effects). I quickly figured that we were going to eat 60 boxes of cheerios a year if we both had them for breakfast every morning (I'm a creature of habit). So going generic saves $85. I switched to a store brand of milk with a savings of $70 a year. One HUGE thing, I have stopped drinking diet coke. At the savings of $700 a year. Yup, SEVEN HUNDRED dollars a year. Drinking 2 a day at work for 5 days times 47 weeks is $470 alone. Add in all the cans I drank at home and it's BIG bucks. So I'm not drinking diet crack in a can anymore.

My clothing allowance is being cut too, by $300 this year (chant with me, I don't NEED it!). I cut the Disney trip in Sept at the savings of $1500. I cut out a spring cruise at the cost of $1000 for the 2 of us. For me that is a HUGE deal, I love my ocean. But we'll do a bargain Myrtle Beach week (eat in the room, drive there, no shows and just hang out for one week is about $350). We do have the the big cruise excursion at the end of the year, we won't talk about how much that costs!

So let's do the math...
$600 Cloth Diapers
$85 Cheerios
$70 Milk
$700 Diet Coke
$300 Clothing
$1500 Disney
$650 (difference between cruise and Myrtle Beach)
---------------------------
$3905 and I'm just starting. The plan isn't to live like a hermit but just to cool it for 2008. Wish me luck!

So addictive!

Ok, I think I am getting the hang of all of this. I don't know how many of you do the pay per post thing on your blog, but it seems to be a great program.

If you want to try it you can click on the button in the upper right corner. You get $20 for your first post. Their requirements are that your blog isn't brand new (90 days old) and that you do more than post baby pictures :)

I am frustrated. I spent 2 hours (baby's whole afternoon nap) doing a video for PPP and I can't get their little snippet of an AVI attached to my AVI file. Bummer - maybe that will be my project tomorrow since it's a $50 project. No joke, I am willing to work 5 hours for $50, especially since it's extra Jenna money. Woot!

My camera is never far from me, today I took 150 pictures. Here are just a few more :) (BTW, I am so addicted to blogs right now, its not funny. If the baby is asleep, boom, I'm writing or reading blogs - it's addicting!).

YUMMY! lol


I see how it is. When SHE sits here SHE gets food. What about me??

Thursday Update

It snowed! We got 2 inches which is almost unheard of now in our area. I can't remember the last time we had snow stick around for a full day.

Scooter wasn't as excited about the snow as mama was.

I don't know, it's sort of wet!

I was right, you tricked me! This is just cold water! I hate water!

Mommy lesson to pass along

Ok, if you haven't guessed already I'm sort of winging it here. Books prepare you for pretty much nothing - a real baby is way different.

So I've been having clothing issues with her, too small, too short. Julie (Tess' mom) suggested to go through and match up by how big the item was and not worry about what size was printed on the tag. Brilliant huh? Why didn't I think of that? Using a Carters 12 month sleeper as a guide I have discovered:

Gymboree clothes run big - size 6-12 is the match up. Size 12-18 month isn't much longer but much wider.

Gap - runs really small. 18-24 month is the same as Carters 12 month.

Target - runs really small. Size 24 is equivalent.

Old Navy - 6-12 month is a little smaller. And a little shorter.

Okie Dokie (JC Pennys) runs small too. 18 months matches up width and length but the sleeves are longer.

Osh Kosh - runs short, 18 months in it is the same as Carters 12 month. 18 month is also wide but you suck it up for the length.

I hope this helps someone out there. I found 5 more outfits with "wrong" sizes on them that scooter will be wearing. I also found a surprise outfit, I have an adorable corduroy bunny outfit from Gymboree (yards sale $2 brand new). Well the little shirt was tucked into the overalls and it said 18-24 so it was in that section of her closet. When comparing everything, I discovered the overalls were 9-12 months! I almost missed out on a super cute outfit.

Sooooooooo if you are buying tons of stuff, find a style sleeper you like and use it as a gauge on size, not what the tag says. Be sure to organize it BEFORE the baby comes, it will be so much easier :)

Wednesday Update

I'm spotty and I've scratched myself up because I'm itchy but I'm still happy!

They really getting better, that is why I was surprised she decided to claw her face and neck up last night. I feel bad for her, I put cortisone cream on the itches and it lasts a few hours. On her legs the cream has really helped a lot. The olive oil didn't really work, it was greasy and didn't rub in. I am going to buy aloe next and if that works, an aloe plant so it will be more natural. Poor baby!

I want to talk about shopping in China again. Although I was pleased with the plain jade strands I got at his shop, I am not happy with the outfits I got at Jordans. They are much thinner than all the others and the insides are stringy. I don't think they'll hold up to washing at all.

The outfits I am really happy about came from a store that I don't know the name of! I think I've said it once already but walk out of the Victory hotel annex and take a left. At the first intersection you'll have the opportunity to take a left and go to starbucks. Instead, cross the street and you'll see a brown building on the corner. The entry to the building is right on the corner and there is a ramp going up to it because it sits a little off the ground. You'll know you are in the right place if you veer to the right and all the little outfits will be on the right. They have the biggest selection and if you buy 10 or so (buy a lot, you won't have the opp again) they are $5 each. They have several pants outfits, all the outfits I bought were pants except for the real silk dress ($25). Don't be conned, the $5 outfits are polyester, not silk. My real silk outfit has a totally different texture and I am 100% sure it is silk. Plus I worked in the bridal industry for several years, I can spot a fake!

Here are cutie pies outfits from China. I will be honest here, I am just now unpacking our luggage! Everything was so weird when we got back (that is a different subject for tomorrow!) then Christmas, then she was in the hospital. We are just now getting into our groove. Anyway, here are her pretty little outfits. If I hadn't been so ill (or so rushed) I would of bought 30 more.

Cleaning the blog

I am cleaning up the blog. This is a home made template so that means there are lots of errors lol

So if you log in and the pictures are messed up or something is gone, come back later on. I hope to have it all cleaned up by tonight, I am going to work on it while the kiddo is asleep :)

Tuesday Update

Natalie's spots are healing quickly! Poor thing has only had formula and cheerios for a couple of days now. Tomorrow I am going to reintroduce pears and oatmeal, we didn't have any issues with that before. She LOVES it! By the way, if any of you use Gerber products, they have printable coupons and a mailing list at http://www.gerber.com/special Cutie pie's pears and oatmeal cost me 2 CENTS a jar thanks to the budget board at www.disboards.com. Want to save some cash, join a site like that!

I've pimped out the site to raise money. The two quickie posts I have up are worth 27.50. Only 19,972.50 to go! HA!

I bought stock today (oohh ahhh) and I have a big sale going in tomorrow (I hope!). I got stuck with Ford stock that was too high so I am forfeiting some of my profit from last year and selling some shares at a loss. Basically I'll be able to buy 1000 shares again and when it goes up 10 cents, sell it and use the $75 profit to sell more of the overpriced shares. I am sort of backing out of it slowly but I think I can have it completed by the time I go back to work.

I found a great site tonight that shows how to fold a flatfold diaper. I was having problems cramming it all in and this twist method works great. I am using two huge diaper pins but I am going to order those grabby things, Natalie will only stay put for so long! http://www.thediaperhyena.com/twist_fold.htm

I have no pictures! How awful is that? Two cameras, both dead. Here is another picture with her bottle. She carries it everywhere, its really cute :)

Woohhoo we have sleepers

I don't think I've ever been this excited about an Ebay package. The sleepers came! I no longer have to do laundry every single day! wwooohhooo!

I also bought the rest of the baby's cloth diaper supplies online today. I went with the Dappi covers, the one cover I have, I really like. The velcro is softer than some and the tabs are really wide which means I can adjust it more. I ordered 18 wraps because they fit her now and that lets me do laundry every three days or so (I also got 6 velcro fitted diapers to mix in with all the others). Butter butt has outgrown her size medium diapers! (and I mean that in the nicest way, I love butter, you can tell by the size of my butt)

I signed up today for an ING account to save up for a sister for Natalie. I am not putting a huge amount in it, but I am putting a little bit each payday. I am also going to put half of any "found money" in it (great deals that save money or any present money).

Natalie's test went well today. Her little kidneys work great and her bladder does what it is suppose to. They took more urine to check for infection, it looks like she won't have to do the daily antibiotic! Yay!

My baby is also covered in spots. Guess who is allergic to strawberries? What a shame too, one of mama's favorite things. She woke up with welts after sleeping 12 hours. I had to wake her up and she cried. She never cries when waking up so I knew something was up. All I really had to do was look at her little forehead, covered in welts. Back and stomach too. Legs too. Ok pretty much everywhere. So she got some baby benedryll and that helped a lot. So she is going back on a formula and cheerio diet until the spots go away then I'll introduce one item at a time. Fun huh?

But lookie at what the nice nurses gave us at the hospital! A little bottle, she's not let it go all day long. She's also drank almost 2 bottles of water (like 4 ounces) and I have a really hard time getting her to drink water at all. Score!

Go baby go!

I did something very important tonight, I backed up all my images on my PC. When was the last time you did that? Do you have baby pictures on your PC? Back them up, you never know when a hard drive will burn out!

With that lecture over, good night!

Sunday Update

I have two days of pictures :)


First successful hairbow
Stylin in my striped sweater

Where am I?

Tada! What fun!

All those toys and she is playing with the instructions?

Today I started her olive oil treatment for her excema. One mom said it really worked and her skin did feel better after I put it on. She has those little hard bumps everywhere now, the doc said it was a laundry detergent allergy. I'll post if it works :)

Oops

I forgot to do my Friday update. I wanted to post every day to have a journal so when I had to go back to work I wouldn't be like "what on earth did I do for 3 months?".

Friday - hmmm...pretty boring. Baby slept well, was so cute it hurt and she ate a lot of cheerios. Well, she really eats cheerios everyday for breakfast. She's an independent little stinker that will only let me feed her part of the time. She gets a bottle and cheerios for breakfast, that way she can graze all morning.

Let me get a start on today's post. I just paid for these Ebay items for the poor baby who has no clothes (ok, she has 4 outfits but still). Really only the pink jacket is for now, the other three are for next fall.




Cute huh? Under $6 each, all new. Score!

I'll post more later - bye!

Thursday already?

Today we went to the doctor. Her lungs are clear now (I knew that, no labored breathing) and her ears looks good too. Woohhoo! She is going from 8 breathing treatments a day to just one, as a preventative. I am picking up an extra prescription of her breathing meds that I'll use at the first sign of a wheeze but I hope I don't have to use it! She has an ultrasound scheduled on Monday to check out the tubes from her kidneys to her bladder. She might have a condition (that she'll outgrow) where when she pees, it squirts back up and drips down again. In that process it will grow bacteria. If she does have this condition she'll take a low dose antibiotic everyday until she grows out of it. I am glad its an easy fix!

This is my baby in her stylin hat and new sweater. How cute is she?

Check out the pudgy little chin hehe She weighed in at 19.5 today :)

I've been on leave for a month now. I have two months to go. I can't believe how fast the first month went!

I am sort of proud of my creation! I bought several nice flatfold diapers and I just can't figure out how to cram those into a diaper wrap. They are HUGE and they stick out. When a diaper sticks out, it leaks, simple as that.

So I bought a really nice robe at a yard sale for $2, it didn't even looked used. It is looped cotton on one side and brushed velour like on the other side. 100% cotton makes great diapers. I was able to cut it up and make 12 hourglass diapers from it. Well, I've cut 12, and one is done!

I used a soft polar fleece to trim it out because it provides a water barrier. It's all cut out by me and hand sew. It's crooked and you can see the stitches. But I made it for my kiddo's little blue hiney and I'm rather proud of myself!

(btw, the baby's hiney is one big mongolian spot!)

They are very thick, see the extra strip I sewed in the middle?

The soft velour side goes on her hiney.

She loves her Fisher Price toys!

I have to go sew more diapers, goodnight!

Wednesday Update

Today was a nice low key day. I don't want to jinx myself by tell you all that Natalie drank twice as much formula as usual (she doesn't like bottles, she wants real food), didn't have any leaky diapers, took TWO naps and went to bed at 8pm. Holy cow - how easy is this? (ok those were the words of doom I know).

Nana brought over a bag of batteries today. They put heart monitors on patients where she works then toss the batteries after one day of use. I can understand why they toss them, they don't want a monitor to stop reading on a patient. So my Mom scoops them up and brings them to me.

So that made a very noisy house around 6pm tonight, every toy that plays music is now powered up! Her current favorite is the play table (yardsale, $5 score!). Mama's favorite is the baby Einstein music toy. It plays classical music and lots of it. I'll wear it out before she does lol

Pictures from tonight :)

Wow it works now!


This is cool!
Mama's pretty baby!

Tuesday Update

Mama has a fever.

I think it can only be solved by burning it out of my system.

Most the time a cruise ship works.

Sometimes fireworks at Disney works.

Twitch

(the baby is great - I got Disney fever today because she was dancing (mama sings disco to her) and I thought how much fun she'd have at Disney. She wouldn't remember it but I would. It would cost almost $1000 to go. Yikes.)

Monday Update

Ok, I know my titles are so boring. I am running out of creative steam here!

First things first. I did buy the poor baby some clothes today. I got a cute pink striped sweater for a whole $6. It is a long skinny 18 month that I am going to let her wear almost like a dress now over cords and like a regular sweater next year. I love how long it is, pictures will be posted soon!

She also got 4 new sleepers:
What baby doesn't want shiny PJs? They were about $7 each shipped and are the great Carters ones that fit her so well. I got two of each color, that way I don't have to stress about laundry so much. That gives her 6 pairs. At the rate she dirties clothes, that is about 3 days worth.

Grandpa comes over every day! This is Miss Natalie decked out in her best kitty cat gear. She had a kitty on her shirt and kitties on her shoes. Wiggle worm wouldn't let me take a picture on the sofa.


I love my Gpop!


The cloth diapers are going well I think. Someone asked me how I could stand something so gross, but it really doesn't bother me a bit. I am learning as I go, I had two leaks today. One when she woke up, I should of used a nighttime doubler. I had another leak with a bad wrap I think. The wraps are used and should work ok, but out of 20 of them, I am sure one or two won't work like I want. I'll try it again, if it leaks (and when I say leak, it is really damp) I'll toss it since I paid a buck for it. Tonight I experimented. All the diapers are new and I have just a couple of new wraps. I did a smooth cotton fitted (as opposed to the others that are a textured weave) and I did it in the larger size. I also added a doubler that I made for her, fleece on the tushie side and two layers of terry cloth on the other side. Fleece is a liquid repellent, the terry underneath will pull the pee through into the diaper and she should be dry in the morning on top. I then used a new wrap in a larger size and tada! You have to love a fat little diaper butt lol

Sunday Update

Well the kiddo is getting better because she's a ham again. The child rarely sits still for any length of time! I on the other hand am regressing back into whatever crud I have. I am on my second zpack and if this doesn't work I'll have to go back to the doc. My ear popped today with the worst pain I've ever had in my life and now I can't hear anything out of that ear. Fun huh?

*** Travel tip *** Take an antibiotic for you and take it whether you need it or not. A round of Amoxicillan isn't going to make the world stop spinning. Do not get sick like I did. It is debilitating and makes caring for a new baby 1000 times harder.

Now back to the baby...

Not to keep going on about it, but this child is growing like a weed! I went through her closet and she has maybe 3 outfits that fit her well. The others are a couple of inches too short. Luckily those Ebay clothes fit her great! Part of me wants to run out and get her new clothes and the practical side of me says do laundry more often because she'll outgrow anything I buy her in the new few weeks. Its an awkward time of the year to not have clothes, the stores are pretty empty.

I started using the cloth diapers today. I have 8 velcro fitted diapers in her current size and several wraps. I need to buy snappies before I use the expensive flat folds I have. I also have a set of cheap gerber flat folds that I am going to sew into an hour glass shape for daytime use. Its silly but I was really excited to put them on her. I know I won't be able to use them at the daycare but I can after hours and on the weekends. She has been so sick, I don't like covering her privates with chemicals. There are several studies about how the chemicals in a diaper (especially pampers, good grief, cut one open) lead to things like asthma. And I know there is research going both ways, but lets see if her diaper rash clears up now. I will post the results!

Natalie moves so much now that its hard to get a cute picture of her. Plus my totally photogenic child has started making faces at me when I take pictures. Her favorite is to scream really loud and pat her little hand over her mouth (nana taught her that) and go wawawawawawa. Then she gets tickled at herself and normally falls down. Another favorite is to try to eat the camera.

She can walk but won't walk. Why should she when we carry her everywhere ? The little stinker will appease me by walking a few steps with me holding her. Then I let go and she'll walk some more, turn and look at me then fall down. I predict in a month she'll be running all over the house. It's time to buy some baby gates!

My front window has a deep sill and Monkey sleeps there. Tonight Natalie figured out that the curtain moves and tada! A cat! Or iddy, however you'd like to say it.

From Christmas day, with her 83 year old great grandmother



Julie posted that you should always sweep up peas or their dried up forms will stab you in the bottoms of your feet. What you really need is a pea eating kitten!

Oops, I forgot the pic!

Wookie - you smell like poo
Natalie - you have too much hair, let me pull it out for you

Notice the new jammies that FIT and her new toy. Marked down to $9 (from $15) at WM today.

Saturday Update

I can't believe she slept until 8:00 this morning! After not sleeping for 3 weeks, just having one night of good sleep (cut in half by the nebulizer treatment but still good) made me feel like a new person!

I have some tips for those waiting for their baby!

1. Ok, I didn't believe people when they said not to buy clothes. I thought that when I bought stuff at yard sales for $1 that it wouldn't matter if it didn't fit. So the kiddo had hundreds of outfits waiting for her. Out of the 30 in her size for this season, maybe 6 fit. Since coming home, Natalie has grown TWO INCHES. She is a 6 month in width but a 12 month in length. So don't buy clothes. Don't ask for anything more high tech than sleepers for your shower. I am going to have a huge yardsale this spring!

2. Don't sign up for formula samples until 2-3 months before your referral. I did it way too early and they expired.

3. Don't stock up on diapers, you won't know what will fit your baby's tushie best. So far Rite Aid's generic brand fits her best. I got two free packs when I transferred a prescription there. Do stock up on unscented wipes. Do stock up on unscented baby wash. I had to return all her scented things, they made her turn bright red!

4. Do buy baby toys at yard sales and scrub them down. She is going to beat them up and abuse them.

5. Buy or register for a portable booster seat. I keep mine in the car (thanks Michelle!). Just because a restaurant has a high chair, it doesn't mean your baby fits in it right.

6. Buy 20 bibs. No joke, the Carters ones that come 3/4 a pack that are at Ross for $3.99 are wonderful. The baby cruds up 5-6 a day.

7. Borrow a carrier, an adapter set and flight vest for the trip from another adoptive family. These are one use items. My flight vest was used but these three items were $50.

For the trip...
1. Don't buy anything until you get to Guangzhou. Prices were 10% of what they were in Beijing. Buy your baby outfits at the store that is brown and on the corner. Walk out of the Victory annex and take a left. You will come to the first road (where you turn left to go to Starbucks) and cross the street. This store had the silkie outfits for $5. They had the fancy two toned outfits there for less than everyone else's one color ones. I had a hard time finding sqeaky shoes I liked. When you see them, grab them. Jade was dirt cheap, don't spend $500 on a bangle at the factory. Their bead bracelets were $20 at the factory, I got a 30 inch long necklace for $12 at Jordans.

2. I stayed at the Victory and loved it. The bed was great. The bathroom was small but my room was huge. I had a business suite with a huge bed and separate living room. I also had a computer in my room :)

3. When you think about snacks, don't forget to bring real food. I wish I had brought freeze dried camping food. When they awful hotel food makes you sick over and over, a real meal would of been really nice.

4. When in China, eat Chinese food. I only had one good "western" meal the whole trip. The Chinese food in Beijing was really good.

5. If your guide wants to take you to someone's house for a meal as a cultural thing, go but don't eat a lot. That is what set off my sickness for the entire trip.

Ok that is it for now, I am working on my trip pictures and will post soon :)

We are home!

4 days in the hospital and we are home!

I have a home nebulizer (sp?) and lots of medicines for her but she is doing much better. I found out a lot about her likes and dislikes food wise in the hospital. The kid would live on plain pancakes, peas and bananas if I'd let her.

PEAS!

And don't think my child is always this happy. She had a super short morning nap then missed her afternoon nap. She cried for a good hour before I gave her the peas. The magic magic peas.

Hospital - blah

Yesterday morning Natalie was admitted to the hospital for respiratory problems. She had a cold that went to her chest that requires steroids and breathing treatments with a nebulizer. She also has an ear infection and a urinary tract infection. She is on 2 antibiotics, the breathing meds and steroids to heal her lungs. She will be there for 3-4 days until her oxygen levels when she is sleeping stay at 92 or better. She is running at 92+ easy during the day but drops to 87 at night. So after she has achieved this, we go home 24 hours later.

I am living at the hospital with her, I am just home for clean clothes. I'll post when I get back, I just wanted to share.