Connor-2 years (three months late)

Is it really true? Is my little baby now a big two year old?? YES! He is an amazing, adventurous, loving-every-minute two year old! As you saw in my previous post, our summer was crazy. I had originally planned on having a party for him the weekend before we left for vacation, but that fell through. Our spring was just about as busy as our summer. Cary was duel-managing two stores, while trying to finish up the spring semester, we went to NY on spring break to see my brother and his new baby girl, and my mom and step-dad came over in May for Mother's Day weekend. After all of that we just wanted a break, which we haven't really gotten.....yet!! More to come on that later!

A two year old Connor:
-He is talking up a storm! He is repeating everything he hears. It is great for accountability though. He heard me say "Oh crap!" one day and of course he said it too. It's not the worst word he could say, but that doesn't mean he should say it.
-I must brag on my boy for a minute and give reason #682 of why we love Dr. Dirk Hamp at Growing Child. We had a really good two year old appointment. He was 28lbs. and 34in. tall. As always, Dr. Dirk said he was growing and doing just fine. Right before we left he said, "Some names you see on your schedule and you just know it's going to be a good visit."
-Connor is eating pretty well these days. Most of the time he will eat what we eat, but sometimes, his picky side comes out and he refuses. His faves are almost all fruits, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese (any kind, even goat), pasta, yogurt, salad, salsa, and much more.
-He LOVES bath time!! My son actually requests to take baths! For his birthday, my sisters got him those bathtub colors and he loves them.
-His favorite toys are his two soccer balls, his toy laptop we got his for his birthday, his Cars chair, another birthday present.
-He still loves to watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. He also loves The Weather Channel, History Channel, and TLC. I watch TWC every morning while I drink my coffee and now Connor requests it. So funny how they love the things we love.
-He is still testing his boundaries every day, but we hardly ever have to put him in time out anymore.

 He has tons of energy and we have so much fun with him!
















Pictures taken by Ashley Bruner  kabphotographyforyou@gmail.com

Finally.....

Wow! It has been three months, almost to the day, since the last time I blogged. We had an INSANE summer! Let me sum up a bit.
June 16- Leave for vacation and find out we have to out of our house by Aug.1
June 27- Return from vacay and IMMEDIATELY begin looking for a new place.
July 6- After almost two weeks of searching, and driving around (every day), we found a new home!
July 21-Spent the previous two weeks packing, packing, and packing some more and moved in on one of the hottest days of the summer!!
July 28- My mom came for a four day visit. We spent the whole week before this just trying to get unpacked and get our guest room ready for her.
Aug 2-6 -Cary and I both got sick this week. Thankfully, Connor did not get it.
Aug. 8- I was still sick and we spent all morning going around to different medical offices for me to get blood work, CT scan, chest x-ray. Not a fun day and I spent the rest of that week trying to recover.

So needless to say, we had a pretty jam packed summer! Once I was finally feeling better, I spent the rest of August trying to finish getting my house in order. We had put some things in temporary spots just so we could have the guest room clean and ready for my mom, so I had some arranging and rearranging to do.
So herein lies my first update in over three months. More to follow!!!

Weekly Shopping Trip-CVS and Walmart

I made a quick trip to CVS and Walmart last night to get a few good deals.

CVS

Total before savings: $40.42
Total spent: $15.31
Total saved: $25.11

Here's what I got:
-2 pks. Huggies diapers
-1 tub Huggies wipes
-1 Pantene shampoo
-1 Pantene conditioner
-1 tube Colgate toothpaste


Walmart

Total before savings: $16.42
Total spent: $2.71
Total saved: $13.71

Here's what I got:
-14 (20ct.) pks. Carefree liners
-1 box Nexcare band aids

Thankful Thursdays

About two months ago I posted a blog about being thankful for all the things that Cary does for us. I wanted it to be a once a month post, but I just didn't get to it.

-I'm thankful for Cary's leadership in our household.
-I'm thankful for Cary's encouragement during my weight loss journey
-I'm thankful for Cary's willingness to serve others.
-I'm thankful for the way he loves us so deeply.

Meal Plan May 30-June 5

Monday- Leftovers
Tuesday- Zucchini Spaghetti
Wednesday- Kielbasa and Onion Pizza
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- Steak, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, and grilled squash
Saturday-Salmon cakes with rice pilaf and veggies
Sunday- Lasagna and salad

I've been so off lately with traveling, Cary finishing school and managing two stores that I let a few go for bit. Namely, my blog, meal planning, and even couponing! Back in the saddle now and ready for a few changes!

Weekly Shopping Trip

Harris Teeter Triples

Harris Teeter has not done triple coupons in over a year, so you can imagine how excited I was when I saw this was coming up!! This is similar to Super Doubles, but they will only triple coupons up to $0.99 face value, so if you have a $0.75 coupon, they will triple it to $2.25! This makes for some very nice deals and lots of freebies! I made three different trips this week and got some really good deals.

Total before savings $172.36
Total spent $32.31
Total saved $140.32

Here's what I got:
-5 bags Kruncher's chips
-3 (37.5yd) Reynold's foil
-2 boxes Uncle Ben's rice
-1 pouch Uncle Ben's rice (free)
-4 bottles Kikkoman soy sauce
-3 dozen Eggland's best eggs
-1 box Smart Balance popcorn (free)
-1 bottle French's dijon mustard
-2 Yoplait greek yogurts
-2 Dannon greek yogurts
-1 tub Philly cooking cream (free)
-3 boxes Eggo waffles (free)
-1 box Puffs tissues
-2 boxes Kleenex tissues
-2 (4 pk.) Gerber yogurt blends
-3 bottles Smart Balance oil
-2 jars Dole fruit
-2 bottles International delight breve cream
-1 bag Kraft homestyle mac and cheese
-1 tube Crest 3D white toothpaste
-2 bags Wacky Mac pasta
-1 box Mr. Clean magic erasers
-6 boxes Lipton family size tea bags ($0.09ea.)
-4 (32oz.) bottles Heinz ketchup
-4 jars Smucker's Simply fruit
-4 Zone Perfect nutrition bars (free)

So much to tell....

I have not blogged for almost two months now! Part of it has just been laziness, but mostly, we have just been extremely busy!! Since April, I have been out of town twice and have only had two weekends that we have not had something planned! I am planning on being much better about it, although, we still have a lot going on until the end of June. Since I have so much to tell, I'm just going to do a quick sum up!

-April 9-10, Bachelorette party for my friend Kari, and Cary turned 30!! We went out to eat and spent the day together.
 -April 16, two of my good friends, Tyler and Kari, got married!! I had the wonderful privilege of being a bridesmaid in their wedding! It was a crazy, yet amazing day and we had such a blast!

-April 17-23, we went to Rochester, NY to see my brother and sister-in-law and their new baby girl.
-May 7-8, my mom and step-dad came in for Mother's Day. I have not spent Mother's day with my mom since college, so this was an extra special weekend. Cary and Connor got me diamond earrings as well!
-May 12-16, I went to Jackson for a wedding shower for Kurt (Cary's younger brother) and Amanda. Because of papers and exams, Cary did not get to go with me.  I was able to leave Connor with my mom in Gatlinburg on my way, so I got a couple of days all to myself! It was hard, but much needed for Cary and myself.

I am still losing weight, although, not as quickly as I was, mostly because I have not been walking. I want to do the C25K plan, but I need to get a jogging stroller first. Meal planning has suffered slightly, but I am still doing it and couponing.

I think I am finally caught up for now.