Family

Today I thought about my very own little family. I am so blessed to have my daughter Abigail and significant other. He has been the best person and best daddy someone can have. I know people make many judgements because of how a person was in the past. But the past is the past and that was high school crap. You wouldn't believe how my S/O is now. He is amazing. He works hard everyday for our family. He loves my daughter and I unconditionally. He sacrifices so much for us. What person would do that if they were selfish? Abby and I are so lucky to have him as a dad/husband/person. Sometimes I feel so bad that he has to work so much but he does it to be selfless. He doesn't care about all the material things in life. No IPad, IPod, Sunglasses, gun, car, motorcycle, or anything in of that sort is needed for him. Yes, those are nice things in life you can absolutely have. But do you actually NEED it?

I am very blessed and have been blessed my whole life. I have everything that I want. But the only thing I lacked was love from my own family. Growing up with no father was pretty hard for me. Especially since he was my best friend. My mom raised me the hard and independent way. No holding my hand, no emotions, nothing. I use to despise her for that. But my S/O taught me so much in life. No matter what I still love my mom and she tries the best she can. No matter how bad I feel for the things she's DONE to me. That was the past and she loves me but sometimes people show it in different ways. I sometimes thank her for giving me that "tough love". Because if it wasn't for that, I would sit here and rely on her for EVERYTHING.

I do everything on my own. Everything I have, it was from hard work and dedication. Everyday I live, I live it on my own. I don't depend on mommy or daddy. But I would love that emotional support. I tend to push people like friends, family, etc. away from my life because of my fear of being hurt. Being used, being abused emotionally, and just everything that comes with having a relationship with someone. I hate depending on people and hate relying on them or thinking that I need them. I like doing things on my own. That tough love, if that's what you want to call it, is what my mother gave me and that's what helped me be independent and strong on my own. That's what helped me raise my daughter on my own, be on my own, and rely on VERY little help from my family and mother. It sounds harsh but I use to ask myself why. Why is it that every other mom can hold their daughters hand through every little thing. But my mom made me walk on my own, in a strong and independent way. I thank her for that.

Do I agree with her choices? No. Would I raise my daughter with that "tough love" mentality? No. I will raise my daughter the way I choose. To show love, to show that she can be independent BUT with support from us. Will I let her throw her kids, problems, and things at me when she gets into a dilemma? NO. Will I buy her the things she needs just because she can't afford it because she spends her own money on things she WANTS? No. I want my daughter to realize that there is a huge difference between having support and being supported. For instance, if she CHOSE to have sex and chose to have a child. I will be there for her no matter what. But don't expect me to baby sit your child just because you want to go a concert or go party every weekend. That's just my opinion. In no way, shape, form, or fashion am I pointing fingers at anyone. Just an observation. Just a thought.

Anyway, I love my daughter to death. I love my significant other to death. I am so blessed. And although I have been hurt in the past. I am glad that it made me stronger and made me the independent person I am today. I'm glad I don't have to be like my own mother towards my daughter. Or at least I will try MY DAMN BEST I can to not be that way.

The moral of the story is. You can have EVERYTHING in life...but if you don't have love then you have NOTHING. I try to make the best of everything in life. I don't care about having the BEST things in life. Who cares? Those come and go. Why does it matter if you have an MacBook? Why? Why does it matter if you have an IPad? Sure I can get those things ANY DAY of the week. I am blessed enough to even be able to go get one. But life is MUCH MUCH more simpler than that. It really is. Coming from me. I have all that I want in life. A lot of things I am so blessed with that others don't have. I would never ever take it for granted. But I'd trade all of this in ..in a heartbeat to get my father back and the family time I had with him and the rest of the ones I love. True Story.

Stockpile Brag!

So I've couponed before I was pregnant but I wasn't as into it as I was throughout my pregnancy and now. Its been over a year...almost about a year and a half since I've been couponing "hardcore". I've built a great stockpile and I'm still building up on it. It's so exciting. I can't believe I'm excited about building a stockpile rather than shopping for clothes, makeup, shoes, etc. LOL But its fun and it is LOTS of work. I spend hours and hours finding deals, stores, and coupons. Loves it.
Here's my stockpile. Its pretty messy right now because I haven't figured out a great way to organize all my stuff yet. So please excuse the messiness.

 Diaper Stockpile =) It's clearly not enough for me. I think I have a diaper and wipes buying problem.

My wipes stockpile below...that definitely not enough for me. I would like to get some more wipes. But it will do. =)

 

 Sorry, its a bit messy. I just put everything on top of each other. I have to figure out another method. The closet is clearly getting full so now I need a bigger one. I have to relocate my stockpile. Lol You can't really see it but on top I have my deodorants. Their all behind each other so it doesn't look like much but it IS lol

I try to put stuff in order by category but since room is running out I have to stack them on top of each other. These are some mouthwashes, shampoo, conditioner, body wash. Band aids, neosporin, etc.

 

 YES I have a random marker in there. I have to move that to my supply closet stockpile. I didn't take a picture of that yet though. But I do have quite a few pens, pencils, paper clips, thumb tacks. This section is mixed with my Q tips shampoo, mouthwash again, hair color, hair ties, floss, etc.

Another view of it.

The last two end caps again. The top shelf is my toothpastes, smell goods, tooth brushes, body washes again, in the green box is lip balms I put in there, I have plenty more things but again its all messy!

These are in my RR as of right now since we use them and might be too lazy to go get it. Its nothing special but my 2 packs of bar soaps, pads, toliet paper, wipes, air freshner. 

I also have 8 Dish Washing Liquid Soap which I put under my kitchen sink. A bunch of school supplies like 5 packs of 10ct pens, 200 thumb tacks, 800 paper clips, and a bunch of other stuff. I also have a huge stockpile of food in my food pantry. Supplies and food will be in another post. Kind of lazy to take a picture right now. LOL I am so proud of it!! I worked hard to do this.

What's for dinner tonight?

Today I am making Beef Stew over Mash Potatoes! Yummy! Yesterday I had a couple of friends over and she brought her daughter. I made a huge rotisserie chicken, some broccoli and cheese, and fresh mash potatoes. Yum! Today I am making this because I have some beef broth leftover from the freezer when I boiled some steak bones and the leftover juices are so yummy! I've been trying to incorporate leftovers, freeze them and remake them into something better. Sometimes I get a successful dinner, other times I wonder what I was thinking. I am so exhausted so I do love to just put my meat over the stove and just let it cook for hours until the bone falls off. YUM!

I just put Abigail down for her second nap of the day and I am so tired. I might lay it down for a bit.

What's for dinner tonight for everybody?! Please do tell me! And any favorite recipes to share? I need some new ideas!

Sunday Funday!

So Abby's eczema and heat rash cleared up tremendously. I am so excited. My babies normal again! I put hydrocortizone on her body lightly and lather her with Aquaphor after her baths. I also bathe her in Aquaphor baby wash. She has such sensitive skin.

Anyway, this is such a relaxing weekend.Yesterday Abby, Daddy, and I went to Borders in The Woodlands, TX. I am so in love with The Woodlands. I plan to move there in the near future. Hopefully. Lol. All Borders are closing down so everything was 25% to 50% percent off. Not too bad. But Im pretty sure it will be 75% off soon. I bought my Secret Sister something for her LO and a TON of books for Abby and some kids for Christmas. I'm excited. I have Abby's X-mas gifts already stocked up! LOL! My S/O bought himself 2 books to read. I didn't find any because I was too busy worrying about children's book! Haha! I spent $35 bucks on $150 dollars worth of books (retail price). I bought a huge one that played music and popped up. I love reading to her. I also bought books that had long stories in them. There was one that had nursery rhymes and classics it was about 8 books in the package for $2bucks!! So exciting!

This morning, I went on my rounds. I usually do my bargain shopping rounds early Sunday morning. It's a LOT easier. I use to do it at random times like weekdays and stuff but it was just too much and stressful and things were always cleared from the shelves. So Sunday morning's are great. I am so excited about my brag too!

OOP: $17.73 Saved: $91.03!! AND left with 8 Extra Care Bucks from CVS and $2 Register Rewards from Walgreens for next time! I've become a pro at it since I've done it my whole 9 months of pregnancy!

That's great considering I bought 4 packages of Huggies Wipes (My favorite wipes!), 2 packs of diapers (CVS had a clearance on their diapers I wanted to try one out), and other stuff!

- 1 Pampers Jumbo Pack

- 1 CVS Diapers Jumbo Pack
- 1 Box of QTips from the baby aisle. I couldn't help it. It was on closeout like 75% off and I had a coupon! LOL

- 4 Packs of Huggies Wipes (216 CT each)

- 5 Similac Sensitive Concentrate Cans (Used my Formula Checks!)

-1 News Paper

- 1 Bleach for the drainage so I bought cheap bleach

- 2 Dove Unscented Bar Soap Packs (We use this up like crazy!)

- 1 Dove Mens Body Wash (DH wont use anything unless it says MENS body wash on it lol)

- 1 Listerine Smart Rinse (My BFF loves using this. She's a Dental Assistant and says she likes to see what she spits out like food wise lol)

- 1 Glade Scent Thing (FOR DH)

- 3 Highlighters as a filler at Walgreens (Great since DH and I are gonna start school in a couple of weeks)

I'm so excited! I bragged about it for an hour to DH. He said I was crazy LOL!

Anyway, I can't stop taking pictures of Abby! :-) Here are a couple! And some pics of my Kalorik Baby Food Processor blending her baby food for freezing!

 Steaming the Peaches first!

 Then pureeing the peaches!

 

THEN, mushing up some Avocado to freeze up and let her try later!

 Happy Sunday everyone! Just woke up!

 Last Night after a bath before bedtime!

 Being a DIVA on our way to Borders

 She loves to eat her two fingers LOL!

 And her Sophie!

Eating fingers again!

Books

I've bought a total of 4 or 5 books at Barnes and Nobles this weekend for Abigail! I can't wait to read it to her. I'm really starting to stock up on her Christmas gifts. Well not much. I know she's not going to be old enough to care about ALL those toys and stuff she's going to get. So DF and I agreed that we would give her books and DVDS (Baby Einstein to be exact! LOL) to educate her rather than buy her the million, thousands of toys we already get her. I currently read her Vtech Rhyme and Discover book to her and she LOVES how it lights up and how colorful it is.

I also read these free books Chick-Fil-La offers when you buy kids meals. Yes I buy kids meals! LOL Now I have some more books to read to her usually during bed time...after her night time baths. I have her Cloud B Lady Bug and Vtech Laptop currently hiding in the closet for Christmas right now. Also, I will probably hold off on 3 books and put that under the tree. I get it as I find a great sale and I think it would pay off BIG TIME! Lol

4 Month Stats

Abigail had her 4 Month appointment today. It was bittersweet for mommy. Her 2 Month shots didn't go so well. She had a low grade fever, and cried for hours. My poor baby. This time..she took it pretty well. She's fast asleep right now. =)

Abby is currently 11.6lbs and 23 inches long. What a teeny tiny shortie! But then again she was 3 weeks early. Her pedi said she was in the normal range in the growth chart. So I'm fine with that. My baby is such a trooper! I love her <3 She's starting to jump in her Jumperoo more even though its still a bit big for her. She loves standing up! Loves loves loves it! She's been trying to lift her head up to sit up lately. It's so obvious. I mean I thought at first it was nothing but her picking her head up while laying down just so she can wiggle around. But she literally wants to SIT UP. She fusses when we don't stand her up. LOL! It's so cute. Then when we do stand her up..she's smiling and cooing/drooling away!

Here are a couple of recent pictures:

 

She loves being in it! 

 Taking a stroll around the park with mommy and daddy!

 Daddy, Abby, and Dash (we're missing Prada =( )

 

Mommy, Abby smiling at mommy, and Daddy

 Lazy Bumbo Sitter! LOL

 Ready to go have some fun in the sun with mommy and daddy! (Well at the mall! LOL)

 

I had to show this off again! I love love love her diaper cake! My BFF made it for me and I refuse to take it apart. It has Size 2 Diapers so maybe I will when shes in 2's. It also has Dr Brown's glass bottles and wash cloths and I forgot what else but I love CHEETAH PRINT!! And my cheetah print doggy! <3

 Taken today! On her way to her 4 Month Appointment! Sorry for the messy hair LOL!

 Relaxing at home with mommy! Trying out my new shades!

 Had to brag about my mail day last week on Friday! My tank came in, my free phone case which BTW fits my phone perfectly! (29.99 Value!), My free Herbal Essence Q, a sample with a Q, My Macys Q's along with a Staples Q!

 Sitting up like a big girl! Yes I have bumpers! Sue me! =P

 

Only way she takes a nap in her crib. Mobile on, Girafee Sleep Sheep thingy on, and Video Camera on full force! (I will NOT have those in there like that when shes A LOT more mobile lol! We will eventually install the camera on the wall)

 

Trying her Munchkin Mesh Feeder..I put banana's in there..then read on my birth board that is a NO NO! Because it doesn't clean out as good. But she loved it. =) 

 Abby looking funny! Eating prunes!

 Trying on her NB size clothes for the last time before I put it away =( (Yes her face looks reddish, she had this terrible rash that the pedi said was eczema)

 Its Moooooooonday!

 

Yesterdays GREAT mail day! Free Parents Choice Formula (We don't use it but we are going to donate the formula's I have to the Church), My Avon order for under $5 bucks! Consists of liquid eyeshadow, and 4 lip balms, Free Aussie Q, Free Pantene Q, Shout Stain Sample and $.55offQ, Target Q for Similac and Zone Bars!!

 Wonderful Adventures of Abigail Skye!

Hi and Bye everyone!!

Sorry for some bad pics quality. I have a sucky camera phone. I recently downgraded and got rid of my BB! Personal choice and decision! Best ever! DF and I say we're getting old obviously since we're saying we don't need smart phones anymore. OMG! LOL

Now that solids are in full effect...I have recently bought a Kalorik Baby Food Processor. I love it! Its a 5 in 1! It steams, chops, processes, sterilizes pacifiers and whatever else it says. I made zucchini in there for her. Yes odd! But she seems to like it.

It works pretty good besides the fact that I had mommy brain and left the spatula in there and processed her carrots. Boo! I then had to throw all of it away and clean it good. Damn it! LOL!

Happy 4 Months to such a wonderful baby girl!

So my little Abby turned 4 Months Saturday. She sure knew it. Friday night she didn't sleep until 1AM! She didn't fuss, cry, or make a peep. She just hung out with mommy and daddy. She then woke up at 7-8am Saturday and did not go to sleep all day long. She was content. She just sat with us and looked around. LOL We were exhausted. Luckily, she's been pretty easy about STTN since she was born and I think the nurses trained her to be that way during her 16 day NICU stay hehe

Here are some pictures during this weekend during her feedings. She LOVES them! And I don't want to hear that "I should feed my baby at 6 months" BS. I am so tired of hearing debates on that stupid subject. EVERY parent/mom/dad is DIFFERENT. If I CHOOSE to do things a certain way with MY CHILD that came OUT OF ME..then so be it. The one thing I hate the most...JUDGMENTAL parents. If you choose to do things a certain way with your child..then more power to you. But please do NOT automatically THINK that your way is better and the best way. I choose what's best for mine and you can do whatever you want with yours. I just hate people saying "Well, I do this because its so eco-friendly and so much better and blah blah blah". Frankly, I don't give a damn and it won't stop my child from growing up to be a healthy, happy baby. Just sayin'.

Anyway, just had to get that out. LOL My baby loves sweet peas and for breakfast I gave her oatmeal with bananas in it! What a hit! I try not to feed her fruits first because I don't want her liking it more than her veggies. ;-)
This was breakfast time. =) She LOVED it. She reached for more. I usually just touch the spoon on her lips to see if she'll reach for it and she opens her mouth wide and moves her head forward to eat it. So cute! Loves it! <3 She also loves her high chair. She'll prop her feet up on the high chair! I always tell her a lady does NOT put her feet on the table. LOL I guess she doesn't care! =) I love love her hair chair also. =)