Very Useful Items

A great outdoor blanket for half the price of the ones found in baby/toddler stores. Plus you can always use one of those coupons you have laying around to save more. Just don't wait. They usually run out quickly and don't restock until next spring.

I have had mine (same as above but outside is green) for two years now.

http://www.bedbathand
beyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=114044




Misty Mate. I have owned 2 of the deluxe 24 oz models both times my husband gave them away. They aren't cheap but they are worth the $30-40. I used one in Egypt in 130F weather and while pregnant and birthing Zuzu. (Hormones always give me hot flashes worse than 130F heat by far.)

I found this one online here Doctors Foster and Smith and walked away with it for $27.50 using a $5 online coupon code (that expires today.) Not exactly the deluxe but it does the same job (just not as pretty) and if my husband gives this one away I probably won't be quite as sad....plus this time I am buying it with his money, not mine :D

Before you ask...no this was not made for reptiles the site is just marketing it as such since they are a pet store.

A good resource

(Bought from Amazon


I just got this book and it is fantastic so I had to share. I want to spend more time on focused instruction for Zuzu since I will be home schooling her until she is at least 7. This book designed more for a 3 year olds classroom setting but can be easily adapted.

It is organized by theme. For Zuzu I am going to start on shapes. It gives art and craft activities, snacks, science, music, sensory, movement actives, a few other topics and then a list of books that also work nicely with the unit. If you are a teacher it even has a letter you can send home to parents introducing the topic and the things that will be covered.

I have to order a few supplies before starting but nothing unusual. The book does make me wish Zuzu had her own space or we had a nice yard to set up a small work station/table.

I bought the book itself from Amazon. I shopped around and with (no) shipping it was only about 50 cents more than the cheapest place. Also note this is the 5th edition. If you are on a budget I am sure the older editions would work just as well.

2 nights in a row

Zuzu has transitioned to her own bed in her own room.

When we moved here she spent the first week to 10 days with mama and baba co-sleeping at night. Then she spent 2 weeks on her crib mattress on the floor and mama sleeping next to her on the air mattress. The second week was on and off. (She cries mama goes in and comforts her and then sleeps there for a while.)
Then her big girl bed got set up. For about a week mama slept on the floor next to her on and off (comes in when she is upset usually about an hour at 1 am and then 5am to wake up at 6:30am.) Upon waking up we would go in and wake up or find baba.
Then I took down the air mattress all together. For a week or two I would still go in when ever she needed me and snuggle with her in her bed. As time went on over the next two weeks she needed me less and less and would come wake us up at 6:30.

Naps during the whole transition followed the same pattern as night time. If she needed me I was there. If she didn't need me I was doing my own thing. The last two weeks I let her get up on her own when she is ready and I meet her at the top of the stairs or let her stand at the top and call for "mama" before coming.

It was a long and slow transition (especially) being pregnant and trying to get up from an air mattress but if it works, it was all worth it.

Do I look "fat" to you

Either 33 or 35 weeks....your guess is as good as mine.

This looks yummy

Zucchini-Avocado Salsa

By Cathe Olson

This is a delicious, nutritious alternative to regular salsa. It is great with chips or as a topping for burritos, tacos, or quesadillas.

2 small zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
3 green onions, sliced
2 medium avocados, peeled, pitted, and diced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
dash Tabasco sauce
salt and black pepper to taste

Steam zucchini and corn together just for 2 or 3 minutes until colors are bright. Place in a bowl with remaining ingredients together and chill for at least one hour.

Yield: About 3 cups

Variation: Add 1 to 2 cups diced tomatoes

Long week...

My mom came. That was nice.
My daughter got sick. 105 fever and a trip to the ER.
I retired my rings. I feel fat.
Baba was late getting home when I had my appointment. That had to be canceled.
Got my online shop back up. Really busy again.
Still haven't unpacked anything else.
Took Zuzu to the fabric store and that did not go well at all.
Ate a nice lunch. More fit throwing and another un-enjoyable experience.
My belly is huge and I look like I am due in a month.

....I need a nap...

Good-bye Belly button...

It is gone...Before children I use to have the nicest, deepest belly button. With my daughter it lost it's depth and returned about 50-70% of normal afterwards.
This time it is completely flat and I still have about 6-8 weeks to go. I am not sure if I like this.... :(

Got Carpet???

I bought 2 yards of this on sale and it is awesome. We have a little Ikea table and it even catches our messes :) I think I am offically ready for playdough and paint.

http://tinyurl.com/4bjw6o

I don't have a current coupon code but give it a week or maybe search online for one.

This is 20 gauge...the ones with the cute characters from the regular stores are about 7 gauge and you can really tell the difference.

Target Coupon

Target is offering free shipping on $50 or more of baby gear and you can get $5 off $50 using code TC382BQY

More reasons why Breast Milk is Best...

A new study came out recently that found stem cells in Breast Milk. See article.

This is very interesting to me. Another interesting article I saw in last year was about Cancer patients drinking breast milk.

...and this article claims it is the cure all...well almost.

I think I know ....

what I am getting Zuzu for her birthday..or maybe a little sooner...

It is made for short riders, it is light weight at less than $100 (vs. $290 for the likeabike mini.)

Stress doesn't even begin to describe it....

My husband's dad is still in the ICU. To make matters worse he got an infection yesterday so he is back on the ventilator and has a fever, as well as other problems. To make matters worse he has already used the highest strength of antibiotics available to fight off the last infection.

I can't keep going the way we are going until the baby is born or even after the baby is born. I need my husband here unless his dad is on his death bed and only has 3 days to live or something.

I can just see it now. Zuzu and I home alone and my water breaks and I go into labor. Then I have to do a home birth, while my husband and mom are trying frantically to find a flight here (minimum 5 hours...2 hours for them each to the airport, then 2 hours on the plane, then a 45 minute cab ride.) They arrive and I am laying in bed with baby #2 and Zuzu.

I seriously hope what ever is going to happen good or bad for my husbands dad will happen this month.

My husband and I can barely even talk to each other without fighting because we both feel like the other should be giving more emotionally and physically.

I have a bad feeling...

I have a feeling and I just can't shake it...
My gut is telling me this baby is going to be early...not like 2-3 days early, but like 2 weeks or more early.

With Zuzu I had June 27th stuck in my head. She was due on July 1st. She ended up being born June 29th which worked perfectly, because baba HAD to work on the 27th and on the 28th he stayed home with me when early labor started.

This time the date May 31st is stuck in my head. It is so bad this time it is almost as if I see this date when I close my eyes, where as last time I don't remember it being quite like this. I also feel like my water is going to break and then this baby is going to come hard and fast...like 4 hours.

Time will tell...