Swimming today

We have a pool here so we decided to go check it out today. It was Jenna's first time in her little car float thingy and I really think she loved it. She would just sit back and hang out. JM kept calling her his little water baby. I really think she is going to be a water baby. Heck, she should be plenty used to going to play in the water by now. :)

She's getting so big!

Saturday night - Jenna taking a bath in my mom's sink. She has already outgrown the baby bathtub and my mom's sink was perfect for her! Too bad our sinks here aren't like this one. So instead of the sink now, we bought her one of those Munchkin inflatable duck tubs that go in the big bathtub.



Sunday - Jenna is trying so hard to crawl. She definitely likes to roll over now and try to get into position. She can sometimes get into the full-on crawling position with her booty up but then she just swings her booty back and forth because she doesn't know how to make herself go forward. Although, she did learn to scoot backwards yesterday. I'm not sure I'm ready for her to start crawling yet!

I forgot to tell yall...

This is just one of my photos from last week. I chopped off all my hair. I just couldn't take it any longer. I needed a change. However, now I think it could be maybe about 2 inches longer. Oh well...I'm never happy with my hair. :(

Jenna's photo contest

Hey yall! I entered Jenna in Parents magazine cover photo contest. There is a place on the site where you can recommend pictures. (I'm not sure if it's the same as voting?) Anyway, this is the link in case you want to see. :)

I have internet!!!!

Woo-Hoo my internet obsession can live on!!

We made it here and we're still unpacking as we will be for a couple more days probably. My mom is here and she is a HUGE help with Jenna. We have tons of storage space here and I've already started Jenna's closet and took a picture of it. It was one of the first of things I did!

As for location, it is great as well! Within probably a 3 mile radius, we have a Super Target, Super Wal-Mart (right beside each other too), CVS (YAY!), Hy-Vee grocery, Price Chopper grocery, Once Upon a Child, Chili's, oh and Fazoli's! (along with lots of other misc. things). We ate at Fazoli's the first night we were here.

Anyway, we are doing good!

As for my pictures from the past week, I've taken them but I'll probably just upload them to my photo site because I might be too lazy to blog them as well.

My empty closet

My empty closet with my one shirt to wear tomorrow.

I've been packing all day with very minor interruptions today. I'm really wanting to leave tomorrow and go to AR to spend a couple of days with my mom before we head up to our new place so I've been trying to get everything done today. With that being said, this will probably have to be my last post for a week or so. (But I'm not going to break my photo a day resolution!) So anyway, I'll see yall later. :)

Moving up!!!

I watched our local news this morning and it said that our town ranked #8 out of the 10 worst places to raise a family. So, I just googled to see what difference we would be making and we're moving to the #37 BEST place to raise a family!! Yippee for that!

Happy Da-Da day!!!

Happy Da-Da day to JM! Jenna has been saying da-da, so we've been saying Happy Da-Da day around here instead. Today was my first father's day to ever celebrate and buy a gift for someone!

So for father's day, I got JM a nice monogrammed robe from Pottery Barn. He's been really wanting one but I could never find a nice one in any stores around here. I think he really likes it!

And Jenna has to taste it - She approves!!

I actually ordered it in plenty of time to get here for today. But, I actually got this personalized Drake bag instead of the robe at first. I called customer service and the woman was extemely nice throughout the whole conversation. She said I could just keep the bag and they would send out a new robe and I'd get it in 3 days. Now, it just so happens that we know someone named Drake - Vanessa's husband. So I'll probably pass it on to him and he can do whatever he wants with it! Anyway, two thumbs up for Pottery Barn customer service!!!

And then JM picked where he wanted for lunch - and it was Chili's. After lunch and a quick Sam's trip for more bubble wrap, we spent the rest of the afternoon packing.

And Jenna is also 7 months today!!! I was going to do her Jenna bear picture today since I didn't do the last one but honestly, because of the packing and the move and all, I'll just resume them after we get moved in. At least I made it up to 6 months!!

My Last Saturday here

It's my last Saturday here!! Well, actually only a couple more days for me here. I think I'm going to leave out early.

Bryce is staying with us this week. We went out to lunch today and this couple told him that he looked like Eddie Haskill. What do you think? I can see it a little bit. I though it was funny!

We live on the touristy part of town, I guess you'd say. There are these beach shops right down the street that I always see people taking pictures in front of everytime we drive down the street. So, I thought we had to do it too before we left! We made good use out of Bryce and he took our pictures for us.

JM thought this was funny because there was a sign telling you to read the other sign. Kind of silly, huh? This was by the sand castle picture above.

And this shark's mouth is the hallway to the front door of this store.

I hope yall had a good Saturday!! What did you do today? :)

My frugal Friday

I've been reading this blog for a couple of weeks now - The Centiscible Sawyer. She has it all laid out nice and easy to follow along!! I just don't have much time right now for Hot Coupon World where I used to look at. Anyway, she has deals for CVS, Walgreens, Target, Wal-Mart and Publix (If you happen to live near one of those.) She also has other great tips like the Redbox one.

So, anyway, I had to go out today so I though I would hit a couple of stores.

My first stop was CVS.

I got 2 Garnier and 1 Listerine for a total of 43 cents!

Then I went to Walgreens.

I used the 5 off 20 coupon and bought formula. Still can't beat $20 formula!

And finally Wal-Mart.

I got 2 Post-It's, 1 Johnsons soap, and tape for a total of $1.15.

And while I was at Wal-Mart, I decided to try out the Redbox movie thing in front. I used the code Flagit for a free movie. Well, it's free as long as we take it back by tomorrow at 9. But every week, they give out free codes. I think this one is good until Monday. And you can do it on multiple debit/credit cards too all week! So, I got Mad Money, in case you were wondering. :) Heck, it may not be all that good, but it's free!

Do you have any great frugal tips or shopping from this week?

JM's blog

I don't know if yall know or not -
But JM took a little hiatus from his blog and switched to another blog. Well, I didn't like that one to start with. Finally, he decided he didn't like that one either. So, he's back to his old blog. He took some pictures of a cute little family today and he's back! You can check him out at his drjohnmike blog.

Jenna's gift

This is something I meant to blog way back when Jenna was born. But now that I'm going through everything and we're moving - and I've been talking about how much we're going to miss everyone - I thought now was the perfect time.

Anyway, I *think* it's an Asian good luck symbol for new babies. You get something that is a sphere and then you hang messages from friends and family below it. Now, I'm pretty sure that is what they said - but I haven't researched it fully and I don't remember the exact name.

Anyway, here are the messages John Michael's fellow residents and co-workers wrote to Jenna:

• Tell someone that you love them today. -Danielle
• I heard your dad say after you were born that he was so proud of you and he was so proud you were his child. Take joy in the fact your parents love you with all they are. -Kyle
• Eat your beans. -unknown
• You made your mother the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen, and your daddy's eyes swam the day you were born. -Laura
• Wherever you go in life, remember that you are loved by your parents. Welcome to the world Jenna! - Du
• Always remember the importance of family. -Debbie
• If you need some money, ask your dad. Gyasi
• A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. -Bryce
• Try to remember that your parents were young once too! -Vickie
• Dear Jenna, Keep God in your heart, love and honor your parents and laugh out loud often. -Alton

It's funny because I remember when we first got here and went to all the new resident stuff, how we were so different than all these other people. And how we probably wouldn't make friends with any of them. And of course, JM told me how he thought Bryce hated him in Dallas. And then Bryce and Cindi became some of our best friends. And of course, Alton & Tish, Kyle & Anabeth, and Du. And of course the two secretaries were so nice to us as well.

And now we're moving on. And we wonder what the next chapter of people in our lives are going to be like. They definitely have high standards to live up to.

Boxes are multiplying...

The boxes are multiplying in the garage (which is good), the walls are becoming bare, the cabinets are getting empty - we're getting more and more into the "transitional" phase of moving. I'll be honest and say that I can't wait until we are settled into our new place and getting on with our lives. I really don't like the transitional phase - and honest to goodness, what ever am I going to do if we get there and we don't have internet or cable yet? :)

The last lunch date

horrible pic of me.... :(

Today was *probably* my last lunch date with Cindi and Anabeth. We've been getting together for lunch dates and various other things these last couple of weeks. I feel like last year all over again when I had to say good-bye to everyone. Even though I'm getting excited, good-byes just suck no matter what.

And even though it's dark and you really can't tell - Jenna sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time today. She's been sitting up on her own pretty well now, so I thought I'd try it and see how she did - She did great for her first time!

too much food!!

With less than 2 weeks now, it looks like I'm going to be packing some of this junk up. Actually, I'm not as worried about the cabinet stuff as the freezer stuff - because I feel like we definitely need to eat the frozen stuff since we can't take that and we actually don't have too much (not like the cabinets) frozen stuff anyway. So yes, it'll be another something else to pack - but I guess we'll have a box of food too!

The GOOD news is that I don't have to go to the grocery store!! What a great excuse! (I hate going.)

While we are speaking of food -

And...And...And... I'm actually really excited about the KC area grocery stores. I'll get to follow the local Money Saving Mom's advice on grocery shopping! And there is a store there that doubles coupons up to .50! So, I will be more than happy to leave our one chain of H-E-B's down here!

Nanny's stool

It was one year ago today that Nanny left us. I was able to take some things - and this is one of things I'll forever keep. When I was little I used to sit on this stool and push it up to her very low coffee table and eat one of my favorite meals she made - triangular fish cakes with brown sugared carrots.

Last year at this time was very difficult. JM told me last year something that has always helped and as always, he is completely right. He told me that all of the bad memories would just be a stepping stone on the way to all the good memories. And a year later - I am able to think of all the good. And I hope to share this little stool with Jenna. :)

Sex & the City!!!

I went to go see Sex and the City movie with Cindi and Chrissy. This was such a great movie!!! I would go as far as saying it's one of the BEST movies I've seen in a very long time - it's definitely one that I don't mind watching over and over!

exhausted

We've been out all day and Jenna came home exhausted. Lately she has been sleeping in the cutest little positions and I've had fun taking pictures of her like this. It also seems that lately I always put her in the middle of the crib and she just figures out her own position. (And yes, the blanket will be removed before I go to bed and the bumper will probably be coming off after we move.)

Speaking of, did you remove your kids' crib bumpers or did you just leave them on? Just wondering...:)

JM attempts to surf

We met Cindi and Bryce at the beach this afternoon and Bryce brought his surfboard. You can park on this beach and I noticed that the water was coming all the way up to where we park usually. The waves were something else today! I got in with Jenna and she actually giggled at the waves hitting us and I think it was the most fun she's had at the beach. It was fun in the water until I felt something nibble at my toe and then I didn't get back in. So anyway, JM attempted to surf for the first time ever. It was really hard with the waves and the wind and I think he did good for his first time! :)

Packing in Progress

photo for yesterday - JM is finally able to help pack too since the boards are over now! YAY! He's been very good about packing a box or two every night. These boxes in the hall need to be moved into the garage into the "ready to go" area.

That corner in the garage is my "ready to go" area. This whole garage is now box central. JM can't even park in there anymore because I've turned it upside down with moving the boxes around and trying to sort stuff into sections.

And all I need now is to poke some holes through Jenna's box and she'll be good to go. Well I'll probably make her a couple of bottles too and maybe throw in a blanket. :)

A long morning at the aquarium

We went to the aquarium this morning. Jenna stayed awake the whole morning - which I'm not sure she's ever skipped a morning nap like that before but I guess she enjoyed seeing all the people and didn't want to miss out on anything. Anyway, she did great for going until about 1:45 without a nap!




Holding her little friends hand in the car - I thought it was just too cute!

And immediately as soon as we came home this afternoon, she crashed.

I also wanted to show Cindy a picture of her in her Room Seven. I think Cindy is the one who introduced me to this brand. :)