Rockin' CVS!

This Black Friday (actually, I shopped on Thursday), CVS had a gajillion things virtually for free. Here's what I got:



1 Aussie shampoo and 1 conditioner - Free w/ECBs
2 Colgate toothpastes - Free w/ECBs + $2.50 in overages from coupons
1 Sally Hanson nail polish - Free w/ECBs
1 25-pack Garnier make-up removing wipes - Free w/ECBs
KitKat and Hershey's info below...not free*
1 King-Size Reese's - Free w/ECBs
1 Bic Soleil w/ 2 cartridges - Free w/ECBs + $3 in overage from coupon
1 Johnson's dry skin lotion - Free w/ECBs + $1 in overage from coupon
2 L'Oreal lip glosses - Free w/ECBs + $1 in overage from coupon
1 L'Oreal anti-wrinkle serum - Free w/ raincheck
3 Gatorade G2s - Free w/ECBs

So all that was free PLUS I gained $7.50 in ECBs b/c of the coupons I used! Thanks, CVS, for paying me to take home more of your stuff. ;)

*I messed up and spent $1 on the KitKat b/c I didn't realize the Reese's was part of the same deal and I had already reached my limit of one. In another transaction, I bought the Hershey bar instead of losing $.60 in ECBs. Mmmm chocolate. (The wrapper is actually empty in the photo above because Ryan ate it already.) Then add up the tax on all the purchases and you figure I spent $3.50 out of pocket for everything - still less than the amount I gained in ECBs.

Hmm...$3.50 is about the same amount I would have spent on just the Gatorade (which I love). Pretty sweet!

This was my Black Friday shopping challenge. Some of these items are going in my Operation Christmas Child stash for next year - I figure if I start now, I'll have a TON of stuff to donate by next Thanksiving, and that has me VERY excited.

Happy Turkey Day

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my husband. This morning, he piled the kids into the car and took them to his daily breakfast destination, Dunkin' Donuts. And me? I didn't get out of bed until near 11 a.m.

11 a.m.

For those of you without kids, this may not seem like a big deal. You still get to decide how long to sleep in on your days off. I miss that luxury...I miss sleep in general (little buddy? he's not a big fan of sleep). But this morning, I got to go back to bed after waking up to feed Jacob and after watching Lily while Ryan got ready to leave. (It's not like I just didn't wake up until 11 a.m....that won't happen for at least another 17 years.)

So thank you, thank you, wonderful husband of mine. You are my best friend, my relief at the end of the day, and a wonderful father to our two little stinkers. I love you.



(2007)

Baby Boom

We got married in 2002. Back then, it seemed like allllll of our friends were getting married at the same time. There were a MILLION wedding presents to buy and ceremonies to attend. It was awesome.

Then there was a lull. So sad, because I love weddings. The happiness! The devotion! The promises to be tested!

But what I hadn't realized was that after the wedding wave comes the baby wave, and this...? This is even MORE awesome. Because buying someone a toaster is in no way comparable to picking out teeny little onesies, hooded duckie towels, and polka-dotted fleece sleepers with feet. Our kids need that stuff like a hole in the head, so I only get to pick it out when OTHER people procreate, and thank you THANK you, everyone, for making babies JUST SO I CAN GO SHOPPING FOR YOU.


(Eowyn - yes, like in the Lord of the Rings! - Jacob, and our nephew Jeffrey)

This year, we welcomed Hope, sweet little Jacob, Jeffrey, and Eowyn to the church nursery. Four newborns within four months...cue ensuing "We need more nursery volunteers!" panic. Another friend who used to go to our church is expecting her 2nd in January (we're waiting for you, Kimberlee!), and if you didn't already believe in miracles, hearing about all they went through to get pregnant with this baby will certainly change your mind.

(They're still waiting for TLC's "A Baby Story" to call them back...if they don't get picked, TLC will really miss out on sharing a truly inspirational story!)

Shortly after Jacob was born, I packed up all my Bradley birth books and mailed them to a friend I met online (at Freecycle, of all places!) to help her better prepare for the natural birth she and her husband always wanted. Their son Josiah was born this summer.


(Mackenzie with her super-happy Aunt)

Last month, a childhood friend from Sunday School had a baby boy named Aidan (emergency induction caused by pre-eclampsia), a high school friend from youth group had a girl named Mackenzie (amidst their ongoing battle to adopt their one-year-old foster child, Micah, who they've had since birth), a high school classmate had his second little boy, Joel, and some friends from college who got married had their second little boy, Joshua.


(A beautiful shot of Joel with his Mama)


(Joshua as Wonderbread for Halloween!)

Wow, October was a busy month! (Which leads me to believe last January was just as busy...hehe.)

In addition, one of my high school teachers had her third baby, Jack, not long before Jacob was born this summer. And just yesterday, I found out that a friend of mine from college and his wife are expecting their first baby, Joseph, in two weeks.


(Jack's cute little feet)

Now let me count this up...
Hope, Jack, Jacob, Jeffrey, Eowyn, Josiah, Aidan, Mackenzie, Joshua, Joel
And still to come...
Joseph and Kimberlee

That's 12 babies! (And look at all the J names - oh my!)

Add to that all the people I know who are either waiting to adopt or unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, and the count is immeasurably higher. (Ladies, if you don't know why you're not getting pregnant and haven't started charting, please PLEASE read Taking Charge of Your Fertility before the "Why is everyone else in the world pregnant except for me!" heartache continues...I've been there and I feel your pain).

I wonder if the baby rush will slow down next year, or if it will continue in earnest. I hope it keeps up...tiny onesies make me happy.

Mama's Buddies

Wordless Wednesday

Jacob Milestones

It was most likely Sunday when Jacob's first tooth broke through his gums, but I didn't notice until Monday. That sure explains why it was hurting SO MUCH whenever he would chomp down while nursing. Ouch! It's his bottom middle left tooth, when you're looking at him (so I guess that makes it his bottom right). Looks like the one next to it isn't far behind.

Funny, because he had his six month pediatrician visit last week, and the doctor remarked on how much he appeared to be teething, but said it didn't look like his teeth were coming in...Mama knew better.







At his checkup, he was 26" long (25th-50th%), which was the same as last time, but I remember not holding him up to the edge of the board close enough last time, and thinking, "Oops, he was a good half inch or so away!" (well, his HAIR was touching!), but I felt too silly to tell anyone. When they looked at his chart this time, they could tell last time was a fluke, because the arc of his height growth shot up really high last time, and now it's back on the same old curve. I've been discovered.

He weighed 15lb 9oz (10th-25th %), which is less than he weighed a few weeks ago wearing a soaking wet diaper. Uh, what? *grumble, grumble* Mama is not too happy when her babies aren't gaining weight.

The only negative report from his checkup was that he wasn't completely sitting up by himself yet (apparently, most babies can by 6 months) and that he wasn't really making any consonant sounds yet (I guess they don't count h's - hehe). It's funny, because when he was real little, he'd goo and "ah-gaah" all over the place, but he stopped that a while ago and it has yet to return.

So we've been practicing letting him sit on his own (we had been sitting him in the bumbo or the high chair, where he isn't required to do it himself).



Sunday, he finally sat on his own for more than just an accidental second! And every time he looked like he would push himself back or slump forward, he's recover and pull himself back up. That's my boy! Getting so big. Every day, he is doing better...so long as we remember to practice!

We split up his 6-month shots into two sets, instead of getting all five at once, just like we did with his 4-month shots, so he'll be back next month for the last two, and they'll re-check his torso control again then. We are going to blow them away with his progress!

His head was 44cm (50th-70th). I had never really paid attention to this stat before, but this time they said his body was finally growing into his head. Come again?! I always thought he had a big head, but it was nice to have it confirmed. Lily had a big head, too. No wonder it always takes me so long to push out my big babies ;)

This morning, me and both kiddies hopped in the shower/bath together for the first time. Jacob had no problem being held under the showerhead with me, because he was in Mama's arms and what could possibly ever go wrong there? (Did you know they even make waterproof slings for just such a thing? How cool!) He just blinked a lot and stared straight ahead, wide-eyed and trusting. Lily she got scared under the showerhead and started telling me she was, "Uh-done, uh-done." So I turned off the water and we all sat and played for a long time in a few inches of water. They both loved it, and Jacob laughed whenever Lily would splash ("shash"). I love how he's so responsive now!

Flashback

For Christmas last year, we gave our parents and grandparents 2008 calendars featuring Miss Lily, created at Lulu.com. I loved the idea that every month featured a different photo of Lily from that same month the year before.

In January, 2008, shortly after Lily celebrated her first birthday, relatives from here to Indiana were seeing this:



(Oh the cuteness! I miss that dimple on her forehead. I wonder if it's still there under her hair? When I look back on photos of Lily as a baby, I see so much of Jacob in her.)

This year's gifts will NOT be calendars (sorry to everyone who had their hopes up...gotta change it up once in a while, ya know?), but it WILL involve Lily & Jacob, and beyond that, I am not at liberty to say anything except that IT WILL BE AWESOME.

OK, I've gotta get back to work on it!

Operation Christmas Child

There is a special cause close to my heart that I would like to share. It is called Operation Christmas Child, and it is run by an organization called Samaritan's Purse (Billy Graham's son Franklin is the President/CEO). Each Christmas, they send shoe boxes full of toys and health care items to children in impoverished parts of the world.

From their Website:
"Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ."

Last year, I had a lot of fun shopping for a 5-9 year old girl and picking out all sorts of goodies to send her way...toys and snacks she could share with her friends, stationery she could treasure as her own, health care products to make her life a little easier or safer. I really looked forward to doing it again this year. I found that it was such an easy, tangible way to give during Thanksgiving.


(Photo from the OCC Website.)

So it's National Collection Week now, and all boxes are due by November 24th. To get involved, first read the shopping/packing instructions, then enter your zip code to find the box drop-off location closest to you (you don't have to ship it to some faraway land yourself!). I would love for everyone to consider putting together at least one box for a kid who could really use an encouragement this Christmas. You might even have enough new things sitting around the house to donate...unopened Happy Meal toys, bars of soap or tubes of toothpaste, a full sheet of stickers. You could even include a bunch of things you got free at CVS using ECBs, like I'll be doing ;)

And while you're in the spirit of giving... (hehe)
Hello to everyone in the Northeast who shops at ShopRite, and a special "Congrats!" to those of you who have already qualified for your free Thanksgiving turkey. We, unfortunately, do not fit that category - the one irony in using so many coupons is that we haven't spent enough money!

SOOOO, to anyone who has already qualified, or to anyone who is not trying, please SPREAD THE LOVE and use our PricePlus number the next time you go shopping at ShopRite. Just leave a comment and I'll e-mail you back with our PricePlus number - cashiers can manually type it in and this is completely legitimate. Thanks in advance!

CVS ECBs Plus A Give-Away!

Here's a couponing/CVS update: I'm still at it. I decided to give it a month or two and see how it goes. Does it really save me money, or entice me to spend even more? The jury's still out.

CVS ECBs are Extra Care Bucks. These are like store credits that print out on the bottom of your receipt after you've bought qualifying items and scanned your CVS card. For instance, Crest Pro-Health Whitening toothpaste is now on sale for $3.49, with $3.49 back in ECBs when you buy it. So, I "purchased" it for $3.49, used a $1.00 off manufacturer coupon, paid the balance with $2.50 in ECBs I already had, and got another $3.49 ECB back on the bottom of my receipt. So basically, it was free PLUS $1 overage. So they paid me $1 to take their toothpaste. Only in America, right?

Today, I went back and took full advantage of the sweet Duracell deal they currently have. You spend $20 on batteries, you get $15 back in ECBs. So I gathered 4 packs of batteries totaling $21, used one $5 off 2 ($5/2) CVS coupon and two $1.50/1 manufacturer coupons, and two ECBs totaling $4.50, putting the batteries at $9+change after tax out of pocket (oop). PLUS I got $15 ECBs back. So there again, they paid me to take four packs of batteries off their hands. Gladly!



Guess how much all that stuff cost me? $2.25! I was thinking it would only be $.25, but I didn't realize the Garnier Fructis deal had a limit of one, and I bought two (oops), so I was out 2 bucks. BUT that is something I was actually excited to buy and try...anything to tame this frizzy mane of mine! So I did not return it and chalked it up to experience.

The Garnier stuff was on sale for $2.99 each with one $2.00 ECB per customer (oops). I had a coupon for $1/1 so that made one of them free and the other still $2.00. Or I guess it could be $1 each and that sounds a lot better ;) The Glacier water was $1.59 with $1.59 ECB, so that was also free. Sweet. I'll drink to that. (Haha, get it? Water?) The dish soap was $1.99 with a $1.00 ECB, and I used a $.50 coupon, so it basically cost me $.50. I can always use dish soap.

The Breeze glucose meter was on sale for $30, and there was a $30/1 coupon in the paper recently. So that was free. FREE. Crazy, right? You may be wondering what I need with a glucose meter, but that is where the Give-Away part of my post title comes in! I would LOVE to give this away to someone who needs it, especially someone with gestational diabetes since I know so many people who have had that. It is brand new and unopened, and I will even foot the bill for shipping (you're welcome to pay for insurance if you want it). All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me that you need it! I will have my hubs randomly pick a winner. And if only one person wants it? Well, congratulations! Please spread the word and tell your friends. I really want this to go to someone who can really use it.

Here are a couple sites that let me know about the current CVS deals and which coupons to combine then with:
Money Saving Mom
Sisterly Savings

And this chick somehow gets the best deals on everything - you should see her grocery bills! It's like they pay HER to shop!
Super Coupon Girl

With two little munchkins taking up most of my time at home, I don't think I could ever have her dedication, but I'm enjoying my own challenges so far - especially as I rack up those CVS ECBs ;)

Don't forget to comment and let me know who needs that glucose meter!

Lily Boeple Has Moved!

Our Lily Boeple blog is now at blog.hestermania.com. Make sure you update your bookmarks, blogrolls, and favorites so you don't miss out on the action ;)

Thanks,
The Management
a.k.a. the Mama

Jacob's 1st "Solid" Meal

Today was a big day! Jacob had his first "solid" food - rice cereal flakes mixed with expressed milk. I keep putting "solid" in quotes because it's such a misnomer. Baby's first table food is runny and dribbly. You don't call the ocean "solid" because there's a little sand mixed in.

I digress.

Here is a video of the little man in action:



He didn't seem too into it. Poor little guy gagged a lot, didn't really realize he should be opening his mouth, had a strong extrusion reflex - a lot of the food got automatically pushed right back out by his tongue - and he didn't even seem all that comfortable sitting upright in the chair. He will be doing great with a little practice in no time, and I'm looking forward to watching his mad skilz develop.

It's funny how different his experience was from our other little person's first meal at the same age:



Lily was SO ready for solids. But then again, she was also SO wanting to be done with breastfeeding.

Jacob? He could go on and on and on and on. And on. I bet he would nurse all day if I let him...content just to lay there in his Mama's arms, smiling up at me every chance he got.

It's so awesome how God gives us what we need when we need it and we don't even realize it until we're looking back. As a first-time-mom, I loved Lily's Independence. I had no desire to hold a baby all day. But the 2nd time around, I know all too well how quickly babies grow up; how quickly they want to go off exploring the world instead of relaxing contentedly on Mama's lap (did Lily EVER relax in a lap?). This time, God gave me my cuddly little buddy because He knew that was just what I needed. And if it takes him a little longer to have an interest in solid foods because he'd rather take an interest in me? That's just fine in my book.

For anyone out there about to start solids with babies nearing or at six months of age, get thee to Amazon.com to order Ruth Yaron's "Super Baby Food" book! It is indispensable when it comes to baby's first (and second and third) food, making your own baby food, knowing how to feed baby, knowing WHEN to feed baby what (great chart in the back), and everything in between. I just broke out my well-worn copy to refresh my brain as I re-enter this exciting baby phase.

And lest you leave thinking little Dee-dob's first foray into the world of solids lacked excitement, just look how excited our little rocker was after he got all cleaned up:

Daddy's Little Helpers

How nice of the lawnmower makers to provide a special toddler-sized handle.



Jacob sat outside in his Bumbo seat (formerly his sister's), happily watching Daddy, Lily, and the cars going by.



I got the exact same blue Bumbo seat for their Oma's house at a garage sale last weekend for $3! So just because I may link to the product manufacturer or a retail store does NOT mean that's what I paid. ;)







(If you couldn't tell, I couldn't decide which pics of Jacob to put up, so I just put them all) ;)

Out for a Walk

I was pushing my baby, Lily was pushing hers.



My baby fell asleep and was carried into the living room to continue his nap, stroller and all.



My bigger baby is still in her crib, jabbering away. Maybe she'll go to sleep if I just add a few more toys... ;)

Wear Your Baby!

In honor of November 12-18 officially being International Babywearing Week, I have decided to post a few of my favorite photos of babywearing in action.



Uncle David with tiny Jacob in Aunt Lori's sling. (Mama loved it so much, she went out and bought her own with "Happy new baby!" money.)



Tante Ilse with Jacob in the sling.



Close-up of what he's doing in there - haha!



At the park with Jacob in the Ergo (love it!), moments before he fell asleep.



Mama's view of sleeping Jacob in the Ergo.



Jacob kangaroo-style in the Ergo with Oma.



There's nothing hotter than Daddy wearing your sleeping baby...am I right, ladies?



Lily holds Marisol while Marisol holds Eowyn in her Baby Bjorn. (I got that FOR FREE for her on Freecycle - sweet!)(Sorry your head is not in the picture, Marisol!)



Aunt Lori with cousin Jeffrey in her Baby Bjorn (and Lily running the other way).



Jacob in the ring sling from Brit that matches the quilt she made him. (Thanks, Brit!)



Wait - that's not Jacob! That's LILY in the original ring sling from Brit. How similar my two sweeties look, minus the hair!

I know I definitely wear Jacob much more than I did Lily...not only is he cuddly and enjoys being held more than she did, but with Lily on the go now, I need my hands free and can't be holding Jacob all the time (who is very disappointed).

What pictures or fond memories do YOU have of babywearing? I'd love to hear about it!

[ A shout-out goes to Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing for mentioning this special week and for promoting a fantastic giveaway from Nonny and Boo (who have a sling named after Steph's new baby Ivy - awww). ]

To Anthony & Emily

Thank you for last night...for your company, your shared love of hot wings, and your enthusiasm to play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with us, while helping to finish Halloween candy. I couldn't have asked for a nicer evening.

So I've Been Sewing...

It only took me 8 months, but I finally got up the nerve to really try out my new sewing machine. Within the last couple of weeks, I have fixed Lily's flannel PJ pants, and have made two Boppy covers, three headbands, one nursing cover (thanks, Lori, for providing the material, the boning, and the know-how...and for sewing some of it whilst I attended to the babes), and am working on a patchwork pillow cover.

That may not sound like a lot, but for me, it's HUGE. I haven't really sewn since HOME EC in middle school. Heart-shaped pillow, anyone?

I am gathering patterns, material, and other "notions" (haha) so I can have a sewing stockpile to help me on my way. Last week, my mom and I went to a big church garage sale, and I filled a brown shopping bag with as much fabric as I could for $5. Believe me when I tell you I packed every last inch of that bag with every kind of fabric I could stuff in there. It was filled to overflowing, but still just $5!

I am very happy with the patterns I've been finding online (what's up next? I want to try this skirt for Lily - see some samples and this sock monkey), and I get a free ePattern courtesy of Money Saving Mom if I mention that Sense and Sensibility Patterns now offers e-patterns. Gotta love free.

I'll try to post pictures of my accomplishments when I get the chance (but not all of them, b/c something is a gift that has yet to be sent out - shoot!) and I have dreams of opening an Etsy store some day. But I still have a lot more learning to do first!

Wordless Wednesday

We Voted

"Vote Here Today"



This is the table where we sign in. The same nice lady sits there for every election. I took pride signing my name right next to Ryan's...to see the evidence of his fulfilled civic duty from earlier that day.



Here's Lily in the booth with me. I had wanted to let her push the VOTE NOW button, but there was too much chaos in the firehouse and I was afraid I'd get yelled at for holding things up.



I'm so glad I got to share this experience with my two little ones (Jacob was in the bottom seat). I told Lily, "Guess what we're going to do?" She looked at me with excitement. "We're going to VOTE!" We walked the three blocks to the firehouse, her repeating, "FOTE!" the whole way there. She was such a good sport for having no idea what was going to happen. After we voted, I told her again what we just did and how important it was. She looked at me and nodded, as if she fully understood.

Hopefully, when the kids are adults, they will fully embrace this privilege and responsibility as their own.