Month 6

We've made it halfway to a year, hooray! Today Wesley is 6 months old. It's an odd feeling because it seems like he's always been in our family. I wouldn't say our family is "complete" however, the question of "will we have more kids" has not yet been answered. But I definitely feel like Wesley rounds out our family quite perfectly for the moment. For once I'm not anxious to move onto the next stage, but fairly content with where we are in this parenting adventure. I really am enjoying each stage the three kids are in right now.

Caley is becoming so "grown up," reading independently, making authentic friendships and being a greatly nurturing big sister. Amelia is hot on Caley's heels and sometimes it's hard for me to tell the two apart from a distance. Out of the corner of my eye I'll see Amelia in an outfit Caley used to wear and have to double-take to make sure which girl it is. She has a temperament unique from Caley, which is neither good nor bad. She's so close to being potty trained, yet I will have to break down and buy another box of diapers tomorrow because we only have one more in her size. Poor kid had to wear a size 2 (Wesley's) today in a pinch. She's initiating about 50% of the time, and "holding it" adequately, especially when I'm distracted and forget to remind her to use the potty.

Wesley is blossoming into an inquisitive, grabby, drooly sitter. He started maintaining sitting a few days ago, in a disposable diaper, and has gotten quite proficient at it so I may see how he does while in a cloth diaper soon. (The big butt of cloth diapers has always interfered with my babies sitting skills.)He's using the bath seat too which makes bathtime much more fun. He's also becoming a pesky sleeper, with the hot weather I feel bad bundling him up like an eskimo but it's the only way to get him to sleep. I've been swaddling him really tight with at least two blankets and safety pinning the swaddle shut, yet he still seems to wiggle out. He also frequently rolls over (while swaddled) during nap/bedtime. He also grabs at anything and everything, including phones, keys, his sister's hair, anything. Wesley has also expanded his palate to include yogurt and sweet potatoes since last month. Soon we will try mangoes, peas, nectarines, and oatmeal.

It's hard to believe that 6 months ago today Wesley came into the world. We are so thankful God brought him into our family. Time really does move too fast.

We love you Wesley! In another 6 months you'll be stuffing your face with cake! :)

Torti-la-la-la-las!!

I'm attempting another step into the land of frugal and healthy living...making bread! My hope is to eventually be able to not buy any bread at the store. So far I've made regular bread in slices, buns, and tortillas. I didn't really think the tortillas would work out, but decided to not buy tortillas at the store this week and force myself to make them for some dinner guests. And they turned out great! I used this allrecipes recipe: Tortillas I but omitted baking powder.

Check it:

Adios!

Marriage and Dancing

My friend Misha just posted this on her blog and I wanted to share. It's especially meaningful since Bill and I met at a dance class. I love this man!

Check it out here.

Poor Wesley with two older sisters frequently gets dressed in pink cloth diapers or girly diaper covers. He's ALL BOY however, make no mistake! Only a real man could confidently wear girly colored underwears.

Today it was so hot he just wore his diaper all day and tonight he went with me to take Caley to the slumber party so we ran some errands. Wesley was in a diaper with a girly cover and a pink binky, in his gender neutral car seat. But surprisingly when we saw some people who oohed and aahed at Wesley's cuteness, they could tell he was a boy! They said he had a very boy look to his face. And they loved his leg chunks.

What a handsome man!

Little girl growing up

Tonight I took Caley to a slumber party. She went to one a few months ago and I was super nervous that she would freak out at bedtime. This time though, she seemed much better. On the drive there she said, "Mommy...I think boys are cute." My heart dropped. What did she just say? I asked, "What do you mean sweetie?" And she replied, "Like Wesley, and Magnus and that other baby, they're cute." My heart went back to where it belonged and I had a sense of relief. Just to make sure I asked, "What do you think of boys your age?" To which she replied, "I don't know" which means she doesn't think what I think she might think about boys.

I don't care if it makes me an overprotective parent, but I really hope Caley doesn't think boys are cute in the way I thought boys were cute for many many many many many more years.

But still, it's only a matter of time. Which scares the bejeezus outta me right now. :)

Holy Rite Aid Steal of a Deal!

Several weeks ago I scored the BEST Rite Aid deal. Guess how much I paid for this?Nothing! Actually I MADE $4!!

Yes, I made money shopping at Rite Aid. I had no idea this sort of thing was possible before I started couponing. But given the right matchups and stacking of coupons and store deals, it can happen!

The funny thing about this shopping trip is I was planning on going grocery shopping right afterward, but made a trip home to help Bill and in the process LOST my grocery coupons and a rebate form. So I missed out on another moneymaking deal through the rebate and that day's grocery coupons. I was so bummed out I practically cried. Seriously. I was wandering around Cost Cutter without any clue as to how I should go about the trip. I've asked around and haven't found my bag with coupons and it's been over a month. I think someone thought it was a wallet and swiped it from my cart. It was a humbling day, to say the least. Coupons and an excellent shopping trip are not more important than many other things. Losing the coupons and rebate was a reminder to me that I shouldn't raise them higher than other, more important things!

But it's still fun to get a good deal! Everything in moderation...everything in moderation...