Bottle Blog

Let's just start with the very bane of my existence. Enter this guy:

9 ounces of Avent HELL.

They leak from the seal, they leak from the nipple, and the nipple sizes are TERRIBLE, especially when dealing with rice cereal. Let's not forget about the contribution it made to the Princess getting reflux. At 10:00 one night last week I was steam cleaning my couch to get the stomach bile and regurgitated formula off before it had a chance to get into the fabric... that is, AFTER both of us got our second bath for the evening and put on fresh clean unvommitted (yes, I know that's not a word) clothes. That was my last straw. In the midst of my temper tantrum/ rant, I told Matt I was going to buy new bottles PRONTO. Of course, that didn't mean at 10:00 pm- I mustered enough patience to wait until my lunch break the next day. 

Mind you, these feeding systems aren't cheap. I figured as much as the Avents cost- they should function a little better than they did. WRONG.

Fast forward to the next day. Enter this guy:

 

12 Ounces of Born Free HEAVEN

It was an immediate fix. Sutherlynn's temperament and disposition were much happier. No more reflux, no more raunchy man-like burps, and HALLELUJAH no more leaking! $75.00 later I am one happy woman with one happy baby girl! 

While shopping around for a new feeding system, I noticed- you know, bottles just aren't very pretty. A light went off in my head, and out comes my BlackBerry to text my ten year old niece. I made plans with her for the very next day to make these:

 

I figured what ten year old girl doesn't have fashion beads? It was a fun bonding project for both of us. Here are some pics of us having our girl's night-in of jewelry FUN!

Sutherlynn gladly supervised...

And yes, I am in my PJ's, and my house was a mess :)

THE END.

FREE Photo Book from Picaboo!

Get a free 8.5x11 Hardcover Photo Book (up to $39.99 value) with 20 pages from Picaboo using the code AFFLGB if you are a brand new customer. You do need to pay $8.99 shipping (which will take 3 to 5 days). There are three cover styles to choose from:  Large Classic, Classic Leather, and Classic Custom.  I've never gotten a photo book from Picaboo so I'll be interested in hearing what you think about your free photo book! 

This offer expires on March 31, 2010. Please note they say they can change the offer at any time - which means if they get too many orders they will cancel this coupon code. So if you want to make a free photo book, make it now and order it while this offer is still available.


Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom on this one. 


Enjoy,

Walgreen's Photo SALE!

Today (Thursday) is the only day to order your free 8x10 print using the coupon code FREEPHOTO at Walgreens Photo and you can pick it up in-store for a total of $0.00!! You can only order one free 8x10 per account. For the payment method select "Pay In Store" - your total should be $0.00 (don't checkout unless it is). You will get a freebie worth $2.99! You can pick it up any time after it's ready (even tomorrow). 

If you don't want to order online, then just print this coupon and take it to Walgreens today.  And if you don't live near a Walgreens you can order online and have it shipped to you for 99 cents.

Need prints?  Order 30 prints for $3.00 with the coupon code WINTER30 at Walgreens Photo.  This coupon code expires Saturday, February 27.


Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom! This really works, I just printed two receipts and I am headed to Walgreen's during my lunch break to pick up my photos! 


Much love!

My First Anxiety Attack as a Mommy.

Oooohh... so where do I begin? After being back to work for 2 weeks, my Childcare giver "Nana" has decided to discontinue keeping Sutherlynn. She has some health issues that prevents her from giving Sutherlynn 100% of her total attention. I am very sad by this, it was a very ideal and convenient situation, not to mention I know and trust Nana. 


So, I began my babysitter seeking adventure this morning. I do not want to put Sutherlynn in a large chain daycare just yet, so I am confining my search to licensed in-home care givers with 1st Aid and CPR Certifications. Talk about ANXIETY! The thought of putting my baby girl's life into a stranger's hands completely freaks me out, regardless of their credentials. You wouldn't believe the amount of tears I have shed over the last two days. Hopefully it will be a very temporary situation. If all goes well with Matt's new job, I won't have to worry about finding child care at all. *fingers crossed*


I placed an ad on Craigslist seeking such an individual, and you would not believe some of the phone calls I have received! While many seem like very qualified individuals, others make me want to hang up the phone, call the police and call this whole thing off and just grin and bear it on one income (Matt's).  


Annnd, in the optimistic news department, Sutherlynn is really starting to develop her personality! I see huge changes every day, and it makes me so sad to see her growing so fast already! All at the same time, I am SOOO excited to see these changes and to explore what "The Future" holds for us each day. Her smile is worth a million dollars to Mommy, and I melt every time I see it, even if it is at 4:00am. 

She has started "talking"... well... cooing. I get so excited when she 'talks' to me. I am not sure what we are talking about, but its by far the best conversation I have ever had with anyone. During playtime, we introduce one toy at a time for a few minutes, and to see her little legs kick so fast in excitement makes me so proud.


Here, she is hanging at home with Mommy and Daddy last Saturday afternoon after a nice visit from Nanny and Grandaddy. I didn't think to take the camera out and snap some shots from their visit. :o(

I LOVE her leg warmers. So fun, so cute!

I need to get back on track with my picture taking and blogging. I don't want to miss a thing! I need to be able to look back on all this when I am 90 years old with tennis balls on my walker! 

There is nothing like a love between a Mommy and her baby. I love cuddling at nap time, even if only one of us is napping. I get to steal all the kisses and smell her hair all I want then! 


Till next time,

Duffel Giveaway at Monogram Chick!

Hi all! Head over to Monogram Chick to enter yourself to win a monogrammed weekend duffel bag. It is SUPER cute, but sorry ladies- I hope I win! :o) 

Giveaway ends Wednsesday, February17th at noon. Details for entering are at Monogram Chick!


P.S.- Include who sent you in your entry! ;o)

Loving 2010 already!

I started back to work today, and I am very quickly starting to lose my positive attitude that I tried to start my day with. Noooo, not because I hate my job, but because I want to be at home with my baby girl. I keep looking at the clock thinking to myself what her usual routine is, and wondering what she's doing right about that time. I keep tearing up, and I am very anxious to get off and race home to her. She is in wonderful hands, and I couldn't be more blessed to have such a good caregiver for her, but there is nothing like Mommy and her baby girl. I thought I would be excited for the break, but I'm not. I don't want to be away from her...even when she cries or poops on me. I miss snuggling with Beetle too. I felt horrible leaving her at home today. It's a routine adjustment for her too. Oh geeze- I am crying now!

Mommy sure does miss this smile! I wish I was this happy at 5:00am!!


Mom and Dad are making my lunch today... good thing they live a half a mile from my work! I get some hot homemade lasagna and Italian bread! I can't wait! Its probably best that I have set plans for lunch, otherwise I might find myself driving southbound on 95 to get to my girl!

2010 is already so full of blessings! I don't want to announce it so soon, but I can't help it! Matt has a new job!!! He goes to Baltimore on Wednesday to get all of his DOT work done and to take some tests! Given he passes his background and road tests, he will be able to put in his notice and start a job that will provide for us a little better! He will be driving a fuel tanker, which yes, I am VERY nervous about, but I swear he drives a big truck better than his own vehicle. And I guess if he can make it through the Rockies in a blizzard, he can do anything.

2010 is already full of some firsts! Here is Sutherlynn's first snow storm!!! January 30, 2010.

Here is a pic of her making a nice gift for Daddy!!! She is a mess!

Things learned in 2009

So this is a little late, but better late than never! I guess thats life with a newborn...

1.) My husband gets "Buck Fever" every year starting in September. There is no support group for him. We just accept him the way he is.

2.) Recessions are terrible, but you quickly learn how fun coupons and shopping lists really are. It's almost like a sport!

3.) Sex makes babies?!?

4.) The Mrs. is very hard to shave once you reach the seven month mark.

5.) Life is worth living, and when you start feeling like its not, you should renew your faith in God.

6.) Your sisters are your best friends.... annnd your best friend is too. :o)

7.) The IRS is AMAZINGLY slow when they owe YOU money. I wonder if they are as patient as we have been if we owed THEM money?

8.) Getting married, buying your first home, and having your first baby are all the most stressful, life changing and exciting moments in life. We got to experience all three in a 12-month period. Is that good or bad?

9.) Don't believe anyone you know when they say they can help you get a job, or if they have a job opening... chances are- its not true.

10.) Family and money DO NOT mix well. I don't have much more to say about that.

11.) Always remember who you were, where you come from, and who helped you grow along the way. Looking back at these things will center you and create a humble being within yourself.

12.) Don't wear two faces. If you want to be a bitch, be a bitch all the time. If you are a nice person, be a nice person all the time. That way people aren't left confused. Everyone has a bad day, but the Jekyl and Hyde act doesn't work when practiced repeatedly.

13.) A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts. Not much more I want to say about that either.

14.) It's okay to take a nap while breast feeding.

15.) Looking into your baby girl's eyes and seeing that smile makes all the pain and weariness disappear, and having a baby to hold makes you fall in love with your best friend all over again.

2010 is going to be a great year. I can't wait to see what's in store for us. I might not have money, but I have it all in my arms. Mommy loves you Sutherlynn Grace Pearce.