Friday Follow!

Join in on the blog hop!!!

Too late for a resolution?

Of course not!

As we all know, babies are expensive. They are eating, pooping and peeing machines. They always need the best bottles, toys, teethers, etc. Everytime I go shopping for groceries or for anything for that matter I always leave with one (or two) things for Marlee. It's unavoidable.

While I try not to go crazy buying things for her, I have to make up for the amount spent and limit my spendings elsewhere. I choose groceries and going out to eat. I haven't mastered the double or triple coupon savings yet, but I will get there. In the mean time I'll try by making budget friendly meals 7 days a week. Since having Marlee we have limited how often we go out to eat drastically, but I'd like to make it once a month at the most.

We usually go to Wal-mart for everything we need. And I mean EVERYTHING. While they have low prices, I always wonder if we're getting the best deal. Obviously toiletries, shampoo, and make up are at their cheapest at Wal-mart. But what about groceries? I rarely see a good sale there. So today we decided to branch out and try a new grocery store that opened 2 months ago. It's called Aldi.

The curb appeal is great. There were tons of cars in the parking lot, obviously people enjoy shopping there. When you drive into the Wal-mart parking lot, the first thing I see is carts everywhere (am I right??), not at Aldi. they are all nicely locked together in the front of the store. Yes, locked together. It's 25 cents to use a cart. But wait, don't fret! You get your 25 cents back when you check out. This ensures that no one leaves a cart in the parking lot to seek out someones car and damage it.

I can't say that we will shop here for our entire grocery list, but they have some good deals, especially in the produce section. We bought a huge bushel of bananas for $1.41 at $.35 per pound, a gallon of 2% milk for $1.79, a head of iceburg lettuce for $0.59, a 10 pound bag of russet potatoes for $2.29, eight Roma tomatoes (roughly 20 oz) for $0.89, and a three pound bag of long grain rice for $1.49. This wasn't all of the groceries, but some of the best deals that we got. I'll definitely return here for some of my produce in the future. The only down side to Aldi; you have to pay for plastic/paper sacks or bring your own, and they don't bag for you. But that can be very eco friendly if you bring your own bags! So I definitely challenge you to check out Aldi and see how you like it!

As far a making meals 7 days a week, I decided to make beef stew tonight. Included are the ingredients, directions and some pictures for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!

Beef Stew

1 lb stew meat (I used roast) cut into 1 inch cubes

2 tbsp all purpose flour

1 (10.5 oz) can beef broth

1 tbsp EVOO

1 cup water

3/4 bag of baby carrots

2 medium potatoes, cubbed

1 onion, quartered

1/2 tsp rosemary

1/2 tsp marjoram

1 tsp garlic powder

1. Cube stew meat and dredge in flour. Heat EVOO in pot on med-hi, add stew meat; brown on all sides.

2. Season meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, and marjoram. Slowly add beef broth and water to the pot. Bring to a boil then turn heat down to med-low and simmer for 1 hour.

3. After 1 hour add the potatoes, onion, and carrots to the pot. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours.

Topics Galore!

First I would like to start out by saying Marlee has hit a clingy stage. I didn't think at 4 months this would be possible (but what do I, a first time mom, really know??) If I put her down she cries. It's not the "I'm hurting" cry or the "I'm really hungry" cry. It's an absolutely pathetic whiney cry that B-R-E-A-K-S my heart! It makes me feel great that she wants to be so close to me, but I can't get a thing done! And believe me, I have a lot to get done around this house.

Every morning we wake up around 8:20, it's been this way for a few weeks now. She has her first bottle and then we spend a few hours in my bed watching T.V and snuggling. I decided today was carrot day. We've knocked out sweet potatoes (like), green beans (semi-like), peas (like), butternut squash (really like), peaches (dislike), apple sauce (semi-like), and bananas (omg she can't get enough). I never know how she will react. The week that we tried butternut squash she really didn't know what to think at first. By day two, she loved them. So this morning I was hoping she'd take a liking to carrots. WRONG, very very wrong. She hates them. The face she made after the first bite said it all. But when I gave her a second bite, she cried. She wanted nothing to do with it. So I gave her some cereal and a bottle. Once she was done I figured we would give them another shot. She wasn't having ANY OF IT. She threw a fit! Tomorrow we'll try again, maybe she'll warm up to them. If not, I'll just have to keep trying!

I've made a few new bows lately in my free time! Two of which I custom made for a friend (AND SOLD!).

I also took pictures for a friend on Saturday. Stacey is graduating this year and needed senior pictures. What a perfect way to build my portfolio! We went to the Grapevine Botanical Gardens, which were absolutely gorgeous. It's small but beauitful, a very good choice thanks to Nikki from Everlasting Expressions Photography! It was a lot of fun, and with out further ado, here are a few shots that I got that day.

Dear Marlee

Everyday you grow more and more. I can't believe that so much time has passed since I first heard you cry. You don't know how blessed I feel to have you in my life; happy, healthy, and beautiful. I dreamt of how you would be while you were in my tummy. I wondered who you would look like. What color would your hair be? I wondered if you would come out absolutely perfect like I hoped.

Although we had some struggles in the beginning, you showed me that you are a fighter. Day two in the NICU and you were breathing normal oxygen. I prayed for this, I prayed you would be strong. You came home after six days in the NICU, Christmas Eve for that matter, and made our Christmas unforgetable. We fought jaundice for a good two-three weeks, but you pushed through it and you are now a perfectly pink baby.

When you were born, you had a skin tag on your right cheek close to your ear. This is from extra tissue that formed into part of your ear. You had to have a minor surgery to have this removed. You will always know it was there due to a tiny scar, but it gives your character =). If that wasn't enough to deal with, we found out you have hip dysplasia in your left hip. We have almost reached the end of that journey. You have 8 more days before you get your pavlik harness off.

We have had such an interesting 18 weeks with you, Marlee. But I would not change it for the world. Good or bad, it makes for memories. I don't ever want to forget them.

You mean the absolute world to me, Pumpkin. You were wanted before we ever conceived you, and loved you when we heard your first heartbeat. I can't imagine life with out you. I hope for wonderful things to come in your life.

I love you Marlee Addisyn.

Love,
Mommy

Four months old

Marlee turned four months old on April 18, 2010! I honestly cannot believe that it has been that long since we first met! She has turned into such a beautiful little girl. She smiles constantly. It doesn't matter who she meets, she smiles. And she has dimples. The cutest dimples ever! I am just smitten!

HAPPY FOUR MONTH BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE PUMPKIN!

Today was her four month check up and it went really well. She weighs 13 lbs (50th percentile), is 23.75 inches long (25th percentile), and has a 15.75 inch head circumference (15th percentile). She also had two shots and the rotavirus vaccine. She did so well, barely a peep out of her! I am so proud of her.

Getting it all together

Growing up I was a skinny little girl. I didn't blow up until 5th grade. I honestly don't know what happened! All through middle school I played softball and was active. In high school up until my senior year I played tennis. It didn't matter how active I was, I was still big. It's very discouraging.


The only time I've ever consistantly lost weight was when I got pregnant. How ironic that the time I should gaining weight, I lose a lot. It showed me that it is possible. I changed my eating habits, for a while cut out meat because it made me sick, and drank tons of water.

Fast forward to giving birth. I wasn't able to breastfeed due to Marlee being a preemie and in the NICU, and she never took to it. But I pumped for 6.5 weeks. It did wonders for my weight. I lost a total of 45 pounds with in 3 weeks! Once I quit pumping the weight stopped dropping, I stopped drinking as much water, and eating as well. How depressing.

Well I am ready to get healthy. My friend Janie, of at least ten years(!), and I are doing The Biggest Loser 6 week workout. Last night was our first night to start and let me say, "HOLY CRAP!" It was intense, and I wanted to give up, but I didn't. Mainly because Bob, the instructer, is really good about keeping you motivated. In the back of my head I kept thinking, "You have to do this to get to where you want to be." Now that I look back at that statement, I can use it for anything in my life. It can be applied to so many situations.

Even though during the work out I was exhausted and my lungs were burning, once it was over I felt so good about myself. And I am even excited about doing it again tonight.

Perfection

I try to be perfect at all that I do. Photography is something that just doesn't come naturally to me. I love taking pictures, but this camera that I have is a little confusing. I've tried reading the manual, but lets get real...IT'S BORING.

So I talked to a photographer friend of mine who told me, "play around, that's the only way you will learn." She gave me a few pointers and I decided to try them out. It's such a nice day out, 80 degrees, that I decided to take Marlee out to lay in the grass and get some shots. Here is what I came up with:

Giveaway?

If some of you didn't know, I make bows and flower clips. When I found out I was having a girl I started right away at making bows. Once Mar got here I stopped, because as we all know all of our time is dedicated to our new addition.

Well Marlee is almost 4 months old and I'm back at it again. With even better ideas. So I'm considering doing a giveaway. What do you ladies think?

16 weeks old already?

I knew that time would fly, but I didn't know I would blink my eyes and it would be 16 weeks! Marlee is blossoming into such a beautiful little girl. Everyday is a new adventure with her!

Wednesday the 7th my Aunt Deb and Uncle Rob watched Marlee while Scot and I went on a date. Our first date since little Mar had arrived. We went to eat dinner and saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D...IT WAS AWESOME!!! I've never seen a movie in 3D, it was worth the $13 ticket.

We were only gone from Marlee for 2.5 hours and she was all I thought about. I knew she was in great hands, but I still couldn't help but think about her and wonder if she was ok. And not to mention I kissed her a hundred times before walking out the door.

I very briefly updated about Marlee's hip yesterday. I'm hoping the next 4 weeks go by fast. I'm ready to snuggle my little bug for more than 30 mins every other day!

A short one

I ordered $31 worth of ribbon supplies tonight! So exciting. I'm ready to make Marlee some cute bows!

We went to another hip appointment today. She is doing really well, her hip is in socket and staying there. 4 more weeks to go!!!!

A big 'ole update

Friday the 2nd was Marlee's first checkup since getting her harness. While we were waiting for our appointment, I met two familes who's little girls have the same issue as Marlee. It's nice meeting people who are going through the same thing. They were incredibly nice. Hopefully we will see them both again.

Doctor Herring came in to check out Mar's hip and said that it's in socket and feels great. Now isn't that reassuring?! We also got another harness because the first one is getting DIRTY. After her appointment we drove straight to Oklahoma.

It was so nice spending a few days with my parents. We didn't do anything excited for Easter. Saturday we went to see the Easter Bunny and my camera flipped out. So I got no pictures of her with the bunny. Oh well. Afterwards we went to see my Papa, Daylene, and Great Aunt Georgea (Marlee's Great Great Aunt). We had a pretty good time.

Marlee is such a ham! She is always so happy to meet new people. I hope she keeps this up the older she gets.

While we were gone I really started missing Scot. I'm not surprised at this, but I am surprised that it only took me 12 hrs to miss him! I was ready to go home the day after we arrived. I think the time apart (four days) really did our relationship some good. I couldn't wait to get home to him. It really put into perspective the important things in life. While I'm sure we will still bicker every now and then, I hope that we can put aside our differences and not aruge as much. I really love him with all of my heart and am willing to do whatever I have to to make him and I both happy!

Here are a few pictures from our Easter weekend:

oh they make me smile!

Today was wonderful. Marlee and I took a nap at 7 this morning, and Scot came home around 8. I completely forgot it was April Fools today, and he got me GOOD. He proceeded to tell me that he got fired and his check was only $500. Needless to say I freaked out and almost beat him.

After a good laugh (ha ha...can you sense the sarcasm?) we layed in bed talking to Marlee. She is so happy first thing in the morning, so sweet. After a while I let Scot get some extra sleep, fed Marlee, and put her in her swing. Scot slept for 3 hours, finally got up and we went off to shop for groceries. I cannot tell you how many people stop me and tell me how beautiful Marlee is. It's so nice to hear it, because she IS beautiful, but I hear it so often it's kind of getting annoying. Is this bad?!

We got everything done that we could before Marlee and I leave tomorrow for Oklahoma. Scot changed the oil in the car, I packed Marlee's bags. And Mar and I even got in some shopping at Target. I found a GREAT toy. It hangs from a carseat or play gym. It is sort of a rattle, it makes noise. When I shook it for Mar she was smiling from ear to ear. I had to get it from her. The only down side? It hangs in her face! I'm going to have to figure something out.