she's a talkin....

Wine Bottles

I am still undecided if I should open an etsy store or not but these are what I make for the holidays, and give them as gifts and sell them on ebay.

what do you think?

check... it!

My bloggy friend is having an O so perfect for Christmas timing giveaway!

Stop on over to her blog HERE and let her know I sent you.....

and even if your not interested in the giveaway you should still check out her A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. little baby C, once to her blog and I KNOW you will be back for more.

I'm sure it's ticketable

Warning: another b**bie post coming your way

First of all, there are some things you should never have to say like this line....

"I will be right back I need to clean the breastmilk off of my windsheild"

Yes... I said it...

You telling me you never had breastmilk in crazy places? I'm sure your wondering how that happened... let me break it down for ya...

My job required me to drive from place to place throughout the day.. and well since I'm the milk maker.. that means pumping..... and yes you guessed it exposing myself to half the people on the highway driving.

So Here I was driving down the road.. with the dairy farm machine on the front seat...Side note... I pretty much have this down to a science... place over sized sweatshirt across front of body, undo, and pump away...I'm sure unless I was stuck in a traffic jam and you studied me for a while ppl would never know what I was doing... I also have VERY DARK tinted windows...realized I forgot the sweatshirt, thankfully I had a tank top on under my shirt so I waited until I was on a road with nobody around and hooked er up...

everything was going fine... that is until crazy truck driver crossing yellow line, I swerved, pumped popped off... and well there you have it...

breastmilk on the windshield...

Wow... it's illegal in this state to drive and txt or talk... but I can do this??? HMMMM

stay tuned for more episodes of "milk gone wild"

he said she said

Me: I met that girl today

Him: Yea what was her name

Me: O shoot I don't remember, It started with an "M"

Him: O yeah that should be easy to figure out???

Me: No it sounded like Michele

Him: (naming of a bunch of random names )

Me: Oooo it was um.... Mi....O yea it was Michelin

Him: Really?!?! Are you sure...

Me: Yea her name was Michelin

Him: yea I don't think so... that's a tire... try again..

Yummy

Some dinners from this week

Prepping

Chicken casserole

topped with stuffing

pot roast

sauteed green beans

jump on the fit train

So I know I mentioned a few times that I would post about my post baby weight loss journey but waited to post and try and loose more I have been pretty busy. So here it is.

10 Weeks postpartum

Here is what I have been doing daily: 400 crunches (mixed Variety) 100 squats, 100 calf raises


weekly: running 2-3 times per week


I will update weekly with my loss and new exercises.

Winner!

The winner of the CSN stores Gift certificate is

#13 Anna

CONGRATULATIONS!

(winner chosen using random number generator)

Thank you to all who participated!

Making a list

A Christmas card list...

This year I am more then thrilled about sending out Christmas cards. Why, you ask... well let me show you. We normally send out a photo Christmas card with a few photos of things we have done that year, however this year... Our Christmas cards will be full of photos of our new baby girl. Who will be enjoying her first Christmas, and it should be documented! I recently joined Shutterfly, since we have been taking so many photos of our little princess, and actually used alot of the photos to make photo album books for Christmas gifts. It was very easy to do, and the prices very reasonable. I was able to upload tons of photos, edit them, and arrange them into beautiful keepsake books that friends and family can look at over and over again.

I have been looking through Shutterfly's collection of Christmas cards trying to decide which ones to get. There are so many to choose from. I think I have narrowed it down to these three. However I may just order a couple of each, they are just to cure not too.

I love anything with a monogram or initial on it and when i saw this one I fell in love with the design, I also like it because it gives us a chance to showcase more then just one photo on it!

With Love Chartreuse Christmas 5x7 folded card

Sweet And Retro Christmas Card

Snow Flurries Cocoa Christmas Card

Which one is your favorite?

Shutterfly also has very cute Christmas return address labels that you can get to match your selection of photo cards. If your looking for a few last minute Christmas gifts you should also check out the wide variety of photo gifts, including mugs, calendars, magnets, and more.

Shutterfly is offering bloggers the chance to win 50 free photo cards

check out how HERE

Like a milkin' machine

WARNING!!!!!!! If your not comfortable chattin bout breastfeeding b**bies then you may want to pretend I didn't post today and wait until tomorrow's post to resume reading... Just Sayin'

As much as I love this little sweetpea of mine she sure has turned me into quite the Milkin' Machine. She eats every two hours pretty much on the dot, unless she falls asleep and sleeps until about the two and a half hour mark. A soon as she wakes up she drops an atomic cry bomb until she gets the b**b. She doesn't spend much time there though, she's really a snacker... She may be every two but it's only for about 8-10 minutes max. She stays just to one side there's no switching here until the next feeding.. it's a bit like Verizons "new every two" plan!

I hate to complain though when I think back to her first week home it took her a good 45-50 minutes to empty the girls out, Whew no wonder I GOT. NOTHING. DONE. We quickly had to work on that and have ever so gracefully brought that down to 8 minutes on average, and that's all business. When she is done, that's just it WE ARE DONE, this ain't no all night buffet.

Then there is the issue of um... shall we say , night feeding transitioning. The period of time where you go from your child waking every 2-3 hours throughout the night to nurse, to them sleeping for a good 7 hours or even all through the night. I know your thinking "why on earth is this chick going on about her child finally sleeping through the night, would most people be thrilled." Well while I was beyond thrilled that I could get more then 3 hours straight sleep in a night, the milk factory never got the "slow the production memo".

There is something to be said about going from once Lovely lady lumps to now Massive mommy mounds and it's not something Victoria secrets is interested in, no not at all. So now my child is sleeping going on 6 hours I'm waking up with cement blocks on my chest wondering what on earth I'm going to do with 2 gallons of b**bie juice? I would stand over her crib crying just hoping that she might... possibly.. just wake up and help me loose my Pam Anderson look alikes, but also thinking how it's wonderful that she is finally sleeping through the night.

I remembered reading that when this transition period came to NOT get up to pump in the night, that doing so would only cause my body to think that my sweet little angel was drinking it and to keep producing it. So I resisted the urge to just break out the old medela and work that thing like it was my job. I actually did pump just enough to relieve the pressure one night, when I really thought I was headed in the direction of the M word. Nope been there once already during this milk makin journey and I wasn't about to do that again.

Things started to even out if ya know what I mean, Baby girl was now going to sleep at 7:15pm and sleeping until 3:30, wake up to eat, then back down and up to eat again at 6. Yea maybe the Le Leche nightmare was over, or so I thought. Until one day just this past week actually, I fed her, prayed for her, put her to bed. I had done all of the normal things I do every night, then I went to bed, knowing as soon as I finally fell asleep she would sound off the b**bie time alert.

NOTSOMUCH......

I woke around 7:30am, not at all to the sound of a hungry babies cry but instead to another episode of milk gone wild......I didn't realize that this was the first time my sweet girl had slept straight through the night without waking up to eat at all.... no that's not what I woke up thinking....

you see my friends..........................................

I had milked the bed...

Cute, real cute.

Don't forget!!!!!

to enter my

Giveaway!!!!!!

Go HERE to check it out

Baby Girl Headbands OCST-4

Online christmas shopping

Trip #4

I love baby girls in headbands, in fact hair or no hair I think every baby girl should have lots of accessories no matter her age!!! I love completing Emmalines outfit with a bow, headband, flower, or baby clip, complete with color coordinated socks, and sometimes shoes!!!! A blog friend of mine Katie, has opened an etsy store selling beautiful baby as well as mommy headbands, and hair accessories.

Check out EmeKay Creative's

(photos taken from EmeKay Creative's Etsy Store)
Her designs are orriginal, and prices very reasonable, she even has a few holiday designs that are sure to compliment any holiday outfit!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway HERE

Just Sayin'

I'm dying to start running again...

The weather has not been friendly

then DST snuck up on us..

Basically what I'm trying to say is, I NEED to get out there,

Running is in my blood...

I keep thinking about it, browsing running websites,

waiting to break in the jogging stroller.

It just seems that it never works out,

I have planned for it many times.

I understand it's not going to be the same as it was before I had a baby,

running everyday 5-10 mile runs.

However, Mama's gonna go crazy if she doesn't put some

miles on these shoes..

Just Sayin'

"Running gives freedom. When you run you can determine your own tempo. You can choose your own course and think whatever you want. Nobody tells you what to do."

~Nina Kuscik

'Tis the season for GIVEAWAYS!!!!!

That's right it's GIVEAWAY time!!!!

The lovely people over at CSN stores have offered one lucky reader a $20 gift certificate that can be used in any of their many (more like over 200) online stores. You can use the gift certificate to purchase something for you, your home, baby, or office..... Or to grab a last minute Christmas gift or stocking stuffer! Have you heard of CSN stores or shopped with them before? They Carry everything from stylish home furnishings like this American Craftsman Coffee tableTo these adorable Momo lady bug baby shoes!

Want to win this $20 gift certificate

~You must leave a separate comment for each thing that you do including your email address. Please be aware entry #1 is mandatory~

Ways to win

#1 go to CSNSTORES.COM and look around and let me know what you would spend your $20 gift certificate on. (worth 1 entry)

#2 Become a follower on this blog (2 entries)

#3 Post about this giveaway on your blog (3 entries)

Winner will be picked using Random.org and have 48 to respong and claim their prize

Giveaway ends Friday November 19th~GOOD LUCK!

(There was no payment received for my honest opinion writtin on this blog post)

Cover what?!?!

UDDER COVERS!!!!

Stylish Nursing Covers

Right now Udder covers is offering a great deal, more then a deal.. it's free!!!!

Using the free code you can get any Nursing Cover of your choice for free.. just pay S & H

I have purchased (2) covers from this company I have both shown below and love them.. they are lightweight, and pretty large to keep from flashing any onlookers....

Funny Story.... while at the Maryland Renn fest, I was sitting on a bench feeding Emmaline behind one of these Udder Covers, when a man walked by with his eyes almost glued to me.. as if he was waiting for me to invite him to join the show or something.. when he said ...

"watcha got on tap.. Irish cream or Dulce de leche" as he chugged down the rest of his beer. His friend (who had chugged one too many himself) chimed in " Irish cream???? Um I think she's Italian"

Wow.....

Go to www.uddercovers.com , click on "Shop Now", select the nursing cover you would like and you will automatically be repositioned to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code “Thanksgiving” which will bring your product total to $0! Holiday shopping and preparations always dwindle selections quickly! You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so.

Show me a Sign!!!!

Online Christmas Shopping

Trip # 3

Who doesn't love a sign, and not just any sign but a handmade, distressed, and even customized with a last name or favorite team....

Here is a little info about SHOW ME A SIGN...

My name is Jennifer and I created this shop out of my love for creating customized hand-destressed and painted signs for your home. I love the thought that a piece of my work will help turn your house into a home! My husband and I just accepted God's calling for us to adopt a baby. All proceeds from this Etsy Shop will go directly towards our adoption fund. Thank you so much for your interest in my work, and for your heart to help us expand our family. God Bless You!

These signs are beautifully handmade, and each purchase is bringing them closer to expanding their family!!!

Be sure to stop on over to SHOW ME A SIGN'S Etsy store or catch up with her on Facebook there are only a few days left to get your orders in for Christmas.

Here are just a few of my favorite signs!!

I Fought For You By The Sound Tank

"All gave some, Some gave All"

"My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place--police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces."- Sidney Sheldon

Giveaway coming soon!!!!

I am pleased to announce that I will be holding a giveaway on my Blog,

hosted by CSNstores.

If you are an online shopper like me you should check out some of their over 200 online stores.

No matter who you are shopping for, you are bound to find the gift at one of the many online stores. From children's clothing like the one shown below to housewares, and everything in

between.

What about that tough to buy for working man or woman on your list?

Wouldn't they love to show up to the office after Christmas vacation with a stylish new briefcase or laptop bag

Hey it happens

Thats not good

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.4

A picture is worth a thousand words

Online Christmas Shopping

Trip # 2

We LOVE photo's, in fact we have an external hard drive just for photo saving, I also have them backed up on Picasa, as well as Shutterfly. So it just seemed fitting that we use some of our most recent pictures of our little princess to make photo gifts for family members.

This year I used Mypublisher and was very surprised with how easy our photo gifts were to design, as well as how quick they showed up at my door. What is even better is the offer they have running right now. Every new customer can sign up to receive a $20 gift card to be used on your first purchase. If you design a small photo book that will cover the cost all you would need to pay is shipping.

Sample from My Publisher

And since I'm sure the main reason you kept reading this post was to see some of the photos we used in our gifts...

Photo done by Tracy Marshal Photography

Ooops I think I just snorted

We did the bath, the lotion, and warm jammies, the little book reading, a clean diaper, and some boobie time.. and my darling girl was in her bed, for the next few hours.... then it was time for the Mr & I to have a movie night.... which movie you ask...

It was stinkin hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We both did our fair share of all out laughing (possibly a snort or two), then looking at each other once we realized how loud we had been grabbing the baby monitor and holding it to our ear, silently praying that the hystericals had not woken the child....

There where a few... um ... without giving the movie away, ... how should I say... parts I found extremely funny being a breastfeeding mama.

speaking of breastfeeding, (insert LARGE warning sign here) If you do not want to cross the personal TMI boundary then stop reading here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

........ Those who have or know anything of breastfeeding know it sure has a way of changing ones appearance, in a not so "lovely Lady Lumps" kinda way once you have passed the no longer always Full stage, and after a bout of engorgement followed by a bout of the dreaded "M" word, those once "lady lumps" may now have a few.... (thinking of nice way to say it..) "stretch mommy marks"....... If you fit into that category... do NOT check out Selma Hayek's boobs in that movie... they will drive you to thoughts of how many years you would have to wait, while depositing all of your spare change into a high interest yielding savings account, so some type of augmentation.

A tutu for you.....

As previously mentioned I will be taking my readers along on my

online Christmas Shopping trips...

I hope it gives you some good ideas!

Looking for a Christmas gift for a sweet little love bug in your life? A good friend of mine from college has an ETSY store called Bouncing Blossoms, where she sells custom made tu-tu's for ages newborn to 5T.

Check out her Bouncing Blossoms ETSY store HERE.

(photo taken from Bouncing Blossoms Online Etsy Store)

Your co-pay is...

That's the words I have been hearing over and over again, since our sweet angel was born. This poor girl has been to the pediatrician more times then i can count on both hands and she is only 9 weeks old.

We have bought so many prescriptions, tried many over the counter options, and said so many prayers.

The past week has been the worst of it all, Emmaline had her two month shots and had a horrible reaction to them and ever since then has not been the same the past three days is when it got HORRIBLE.

My girl stopped eating!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so worried, she would just scream and scream when i tried to feed her, after about 30 calls to the doctor, and a trip back to the office she is on yet another medication to control her now out of control reflux...... it seems to be working now...

She is actually keeping this one down and has started eating again. Praise the Lord

Hopefully this will be the end of this stressful, sceaming/crying, constantly worried period.

2 Months

2 Months

Emmaline, you are such a joy. Momma & Daddy love you so much. you now weigh 6.11 pounds and 21.5 inches. you are in the 75th % for weight and 50th % for height. You love your NUK, and your baby eintstein play mat. You are still amazed at starring at the ceiling fan. You have had your fair share or medical emergencies, antibiotics, and droppers thats for sure. You love sleeping on your daddy's chest.

Free cards

shutterfly.com is offering bloggers 50 free christmas cards click HERE

Do you hear that...

It sounds like JINGLE BELLS....

Thats right folks, I'm thinking Christmasy thoughts...

I even asked my husband if I could decorate the house...

so here are my thoughts:

1) a post of the things I am purchasing for christmas gifts... mostly homeade, and etsy...giving you a chance to see new etsy shops too.

2)maybe a christmas giveaway

3)a photo tour of my house once decorated

4)some christmas baking post's including recipes

5)post's about baby's first christmas

let me know which ones you would like to see on here...

also if you have an etsy store and would like to be mentioned please let me know.

Well let me explain

I know it has been a while, however.. it has been a while since I did much of anything...

let me break it down for ya

• Sweet baby love got an ear infection and was on ammox so we pretty much stayed close to home.
• Boss started driving me crazy, then I started thinking & praying about it, talked to the Mr and decided to NOT return from Maternity Leave ...... Hello SAHM ( I am still teaching one day a week)
• Stressed out about going back to work until I decided not too... especially because little miss thing HATES bottles and really only takes them when it comes down to drink this or starve, not really more like: mom won't be home for a couple hours and Gammy's boobies just won't cut it
• took little princess for 2 mon shots and she had a horrible reaction to the DtaP and almost had to go to the ER