WW

Super Soaker

Gianna earned a new nickname this weekend.
Super Soaker.

We woke her up Saturday morning - she is SOAKED. She peed. all up her belly....
I figured it was just a fluke, she was wearing a different kind of diaper than normal, afterall.

This morning, around 5am, she was all whining in her bed. She peed. up her belly. again. Not to the extent of Saturday, but still. I couldn't blame it on the diaper this time.

I don't know if she is just peeing more than "normal" lately or if she might, GASP, get to move to size 2 diapers..... [this I doubt considering how tightly we need to put on the 1's so they don't fall off] Or those size 1-2 huggies. What is up with those?

But you know what she HASN'T been doing as much of lately?
Puking across the living room! Wahoo to that. Unless, of course, I am dressed nicely - then, naturaly, she throws up all over me, because HELLOO MOTHER I MISSED YOU!
We still aren't switched totally to one formula - I am pretty much at a loss on this one. She's on 2 bottles of Ali/2 bottles of goodstart a day and cranky my BELLYHURTTTZ MOM-EEE in the evenings.
But is it the 2 together? Is it b/c she doesn't like Goodstart? Did the Ali really make THAT much of a difference? Should I just totally switch her and see what happens?

Studying

Lately, I have been amazed at how much Gianna studies things. How she really SEES things.
She looks at them.
Touches them.
Eats them.

It is truly amazing to study her, studying her environment.
And finding her toes.
Because, NOM NOM!

Some things are so simple. Yet so complex.
And these things are the most wonderful discoveries.

WW

VS

You know how I said we were doing "really well" switching her from the Ali?
I shouldn't have said that out loud.
Things have been a little hairy the past few nights.

But, it could possibly be from teething.
Maybe. Hopefully.

Hold it RIGHT there

Every day I am more amazed at the little person unfolding before my eyes.
She even has bed head.
We started w/ spoon feeding last week - cereal it is. She thinks it is pretty fun.
Also, we are working on weaning her off of the Ali and on to cheaper (err... regular...) formula. It is going ok, she has her moments but I think overall we'll be successful with it.
Next step after that is complete - baby food. I want to make my own, but haven't gotten there yet. Any tips on that would be AWESOME!

Also - the little one is gettng teeth. For sure. There aren't any visible bumps or anything in her mouth yet, but OHMYGOODNESS does she chew on everything. And she does this crazy thing where she basically punches herself in the mouth.
I've heard good things about the Highlands Teething Tablets, so those are on the next grocery list for when she get super miserable. Are there any other good tips/tricks to help them get through teething?

I can't believe how much she has changed in the last few weeks, Mike and I were just talking about how much happier she is since her reflux is under better control and her personality is starting to shine through.

The other big development in Miss G's life - she can move.

Not quite crawling, but she can get to where she wants to go by wiggling her way over.

Her mother is not ready for this.

Thanks for all the good $$saving tips and tricks! Check out the sidebar - I added some good websites over there if anyone else is interested.

5k: check!

Remember all my talk about running that 5k?

I did it on sunday.

I hadn't been able to "train" nearly to the level I had anticipated - life is RIDICULOUS but there was no way I was NOT going to do this.

So, I had to walk a small portion (did I mention I have an ear infection....that throughs off the equilibrium a bit) but I managed to run the entire last 2/3. Running in a race is really different and really motivating. I would like to do it again next month but my schedule may inhibit that, despite the number of races available.

So, in short, I am very glad I did it.
And I got a hooded sweatshirt for my efforts!

Wordless Wednesday

WHAT is going on here??

No, babies do not belong in a bar...

I had 2 really similar conversations this past week.
Both were about how having kids, in a nutshell, can make you seem like a really big loser.

The first time this came up was when we were visiting friends. We had to alter some plans and skip out on something that would have been really fun, because you DO NOT mess with bedtime. And, of course, because babies don't belong at a bar. [If they did, this would be a totally different post....] Our friends that we were visiting are expecting and they really got a taste of how the little people run the show!
The second conversation came amongst a group of colleagues, none of whom have children. The reason they don't have children - they enjoy their active social lives and don't want to give them up. Can't say I blame them there. Not even at all. Our social outings involve the zoo and babies r us and our conversations 90% of the time involve the baby/kids/things we SWORE we would never discuss in public - like baby poop and vomit.

It is RARE that I leave G just because I want to get out of the house for the evening. [in 5 months, I have done so 4x]. She's my child and I WANT to be with her as much as possible - and - my husband works most weekend nights so any exciting plans are few and far between.

So, what is my point?
Before I got pregnant and before G arrived - I was SURE I would regularly leave her to go out with the girls or for date nights because I had a rocking social life. And really, what was the big deal with getting a babysitter?
Now that the last 5 months have happened and I find her to be totally awesome - and she IS the big deal, I still would like to do those things, just on a more occasional basis. And that social life I once had seems very distant. As in, any engagements outside of the baby aisle at Target are major social outtings! MUST BUY NEW SHOES! ::sigh::

I would be lying if I said that I never missed my friends & the days that I could go out late and sleep in or just do whatever, whenever. It's hard for me to accept that I am in a different place than many of those around me some days. Truly, I wouldn't trade one minute of my life now, even if I am totally lame and no one invites me anywhere - because when I see those beautiful blue eyes, all is right in our world - no matter who else is in it.

Hook Me Up

I know a lot of people are finding ways to cut back these days - Me included.

Only, I don't think I being very efficient.
Sure, I cut coupons here and there. We eat in more. I pack my lunch. We find free things to do on the weekends.

But I am SURE there is more out there - a whole area of untapped $$ saving opportunity that I am missing!

One of my new "finds" is this website. I am sure I am late on this, but the deals I found on diapers and other baby things through Baby Cheapskate are really nice.

I want to know bloggers - what do you do to save money and where do you look for good deals? Are there other websites out there that I don't know about? If you give me the link I will post in the sidebar for all to enjoy.

Oh Where Oh Where have I been

Hell-ooo out there.... Still here. The past week has been ridiculous. And then, we took off for the weekend to lovely N. Carolina where our awesome friends live.
Because I am tired and lazy and blogger uploads my pictures backwards - these are out of order.

Checking out the polar bear at the N.C. zoo

Sucking her thumb at the zoo - taking in the sights.

Family swimming advenure!

She REALLY like the bubbles at the kiddy pool

hamming it up at the park

Thanks for having us guys! Can't wait to see you, and Mr. C when he arrives!

Happy Birthday to You!

If someone would have asked me last year at this time where we would be, I wouldn't have guessed here.

I wouldn't have imagined you would be almost finished with school, doing wonderful and excelling in something that you weren't even sure you would like.

I wouldn't have thought that this beautiful little girl would have you completely wrapped around your finger.

I had no idea how our lives were going to change and how proud you would make me.

This may not have been the 26th birthday you pictured for yourself, husband, but you are wonderful for taking it in stride.

We love you, honey, and can't wait to spend all the rest of your birthday's together.