Baby Book Ideas

I am starting to pull some pictures of  B from the past year and a half
to work on a digital book....ideas below



The cleaning and scrubbing

will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up,

as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

Dust, go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

• Presentation
• Title Page, "The Arrival"
• Table of Contents
• This is a Record of the Life of:
• "The Stork Came Stalking" by Eugene Field
• Announcement
• Shower Invitations and Birth Announcements
• Letters and Telegrams
• Footprints and Handprints
• Baby's Weight
• Baby's Presents
• Baby's First Photographs
• "Star Song" by Robert Herrick
• Baby's First Outing
• "The Bottle Tree" by Eugene Field
• Baby's First Doll
• Baby's Bath
• Baby's Name
• Photographs
• First Short Clothes
• "Googly-Goo" by Eugene Field
• Baby's First Tooth
• "Love" by Lewis Carroll
• First Words
• Locks of Our Baby's Hair
• First Shoes
• Photographs
• Baby's Height
• First Creeping
• First Dinner
• "A Charge" by Eugene Field
• First Steps
• First Holiday
• First New Year
• First Playmates
• "Garden and Cradle" by Eugene Field
• First Journey
• First Book
• Photographs
• First Lesson
• A Record of Birthdays
• First Ride
• First Letter
• Baby's Writing at various ages
• Signature at various ages
• Notes

• Baby's first photo
• First glimpse (for sonogram, adoption or belly photo)
• First thoughts
• A letter to you
• Your parents
• Your family tree
• Baby Shower
• Page for copy of birth certificate or birth announcement
• The day you were born
• Who visited you
• Keepsakes envelope
• Impressions - handprints & footprints
• Headlines
• First home
• Getting you home
• A celebration for you
• Early firsts
• Mealtime
• Playtime
• Bathtime
• Bedtime
• Holidays and special days
• Growing up
• Health
• First birthday
• More firsts
• Getting to know you
• First time on a plane, train, bicycle, etc.
• Your first vacation
• Years ahead
• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• School notes
• Notes pages
• Blank pages for pictures, etc.

In most standard baby books they ask you questions about the pregnancy like:
Due Date
First time you felt baby kick
How you felt seeing them in the ultrasound the first time
How you felt hearing the heart beat for the first time
What you craved

Baby Shower:
Date and time
Who gave it
Guests
Gifts
(copy of invite)

The Delivery:
What Time and How you went into labour
Who was there
How long did it last

The Birth:
Date
Time
Weight of Baby
Length of Baby
Full Name
eye color
Hair or No Hair and what color
(Copy of birth certificate)
(Footprints)
(Hospital Picture)

In the Hospital:
First Visitors
Gifts Recieved
Shots and Tests given

First Week Home:

Ceremonies:
(like dedication at church or an infant babtisim)

Milestones of the first year:
first laugh
first smile
slept through the night
first rice cereal
first tooth
first babysitter
first word
first time sitting up
rolled over
(and on an on)

First Birthday:
(picture)
Party Date
Time
(invite)
Guests
Gifts
Special things you did
Theme

Major 2010 events

So I want to add a page in my LO's scrapbook about major events that happened in the world in the year he was born.
The list so far:
* Haiti Earthquake
* BP oil spill
* Winter Olympics
* Chinese earthquake & subsequent tsunami
* US Healthcare reform
* US advances in World Cup
* iPad
* iPhone 4

* Comprehensive List by Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010

Target Beauty Bag (Free)

In connection with Spring Break, Target is giving away free minibags full of beauty supplies (most likely, sample sizes--but hey free is free). Go to their Facebook page. Make sure you like the page and then fill in the necessary info. and away it goes.






My confirmation: d4866c41-376e-496f-816f-0ffca0ef094e

Prayers of Clarity

So I really have become terrible at updating this blog given how busy we have been lately.

A LOT has gone on that I am not sure where to begin.

Husby has been job searching off and on since Thanksgiving after being let go from his previous employer. In some sense it was a blessing in disguise since it corrected a lot of his medical issues (obviously all stess-related) and allowed him time to focus on his grad work and spending time (making memories) with the little guy. From a financial standpoint, things have been fine and continue to be fine. I was given a slight raise (or finally paid for everything I do...and paid higher than normal), and Husby was given a severance. We were finally able to find insurance for the little guy in case of emergency and by not working, we have saved on daycare and fuel costs. Mentally, it has been draining for Husby to be out of work (neither of us have not not worked since high school....and we both do not have the personality to flake around).

He has been applying to all sorts of job, but nothing is seeming to pan out. I think some of these "job postings"     are nothing but fluff to make some of these companies look better or even receive some government funding. Two weeks ago he took a phone interview with a popular boat manufacturing company here in FL. For those that do not know, Husby did an internship with a sister company of this manufacturing company, so it is really right up his alley. This past Friday, he had an in-person interview that lasted 5 hours! He talked to everyone there; met the rest of the engineering team and interviewed with the Engineering manager and HR and all the engineers (they are big on teamwork and good team environment). Then the manager took him to lunch before he came home. He was told they had to interview 1 other candidate before they would have a final decision. It seems positive, so fingers crossed he gets it.

Recently, we have discussed looking elsewhere for jobs (out of FL). I am getting burnt out in my job (the politics in this state in relation to education are very poor) and we have lived here now 10 years (this coming August)...we have owned this house for 5 years and so we have been thinking of  a change. Husby has 2 really close college friends who have been trying to persuade him to come work at their companies, and I think he is considering it. One is in Texas and the other is in Louisiana. Although it would change our worlds due to new surroundings, new weather, and new lifestyles, I think we are swaying towards Louisiana as the job is a very secure job market (although the job is listed as risky since it is related to oil drilling). This job would also have him away from B and I at long time intervals (weeks to a month at a time and then home from a long span as well). It would definitely take some growing on my part, but given that I am beginning to really push this new business venture and also looking to go back to school, I think this is the best time to do it.

We will see how the next week goes and if he hears anything from any of the 3 jobs (1 here in FL, 1 in LA and 1 in TX). We could be looking at moving by this summer (which is nerve-racking and exciting all at the same time...).

SemiAnnual BJ's Stocking Trip & Deals at Walmart

So, today was yet another good shopping trip for us. We have been waiting to do our big BJ's paper goods/cleaning products run for a bit since we didn't need anything until recently, so today we tackled that and then hit a couple good deals at Walmart while we did our usual grocery trip.

Walmart:


*Simple brand Exfoliating Facial Wipes (Sensitive Skin) 25pkg.:   $4.97
                                                              Manufacturer Coupon: -$2.00
                                                                              Total Cost:  $2.97  (or  $0.12/facial wipe)--trying out a new product since everything I have tried lately leaves my skin feeling dry & tight


*Beechnut Steamies(Chicken & Cheese Potato-2pk):    $1.98

                                              Manufacturer Coupon:  -$0.75
                                                              Total Cost:  $1.23  (or  $0.62/meal)--great  on-the-go/on-the-fly meals for B


*Playskool Sesame Let's Rock Guitar:    $15.88  (originally 19.88+)
*Playskool Mini Plush Cookie Monster:  $7.97
                      Manufacturer Coupon:  -$7.97
                                         Total Cost:  $15.88  (deal was Buy 1 Playskool Sesame Street toy for $15, get the mini plush for FREE)--more to add to Easter basket


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BJ's Trip


*Bounty ExtraSoft  Paper Towels (12 megaroll pack):             $18.99
                                                                  BJ's Coupon:      $4.00
                                                       Manufacturer's Coupon:   $4.00
                                                                  Total Cost:    $ 10.99 ($0.92 per a megaroll)
                                                                   Saved: $8.00

*Eucerin 3pk Handcream (Clearance Price) $4.70  (usually 1 tube is $4.87 at Walmart)
                                                Total Cost:  $ 4.70
                                                      Saved: $ 9.91

*Lysol Wipes (5pack of 80-wipe containers): $12.99

                                           BJ's Coupon:      $3.00
                                             Total Coat:    $ 9.99 ($0.02/wipe or $1.99/container)


*Puffs Facial Tissue(12box pack): $12.99
                        BJ's Coupon:      $3.00
             Manufacturer's Coupon:   $3.00
                              Total Cost:    $ 6.99 ($0.58 per a tissue box)
                                        Saved: $6.00


*Bertolli Alfredo Sauce (3-pack):  $5.79

                        BJ's Coupon:      $1.50
             Manufacturer's Coupon:   $0.50
                              Total Cost:    $ 3.79 ($1.26 per a jar)
                                        Saved: $2.00




*Tide Coldwater (170oz.):   $19.99
                    BJ's Coupon:      $2.00
             Manufacturer's Coupon:   $1.00
                              Total Cost:    $ 16.99 ($0.10/oz.)
                                        Saved: $3.00                   

*Dole Mandarin Oranges (8-11oz.cans): $7.99

                                   BJ's Coupon:      $2.00
                                        Total Cost:    $ 5.99 ($0.74 per can)
                                        Saved: $3.00     


*GROUP COUPON*
Buy  3 products, get $5.00 off your total purchase


*Kraft Mac & Cheese 12-Box Case: $5.00  (usually $1.25/box at Walmart)

                                   Total Cost:    $ 5.00 ($0.42 per box)
                                          Saved:    $10.00


* Nilla Wafers (2-pk bulk box): $5.99
      Total Cost: $ 5.99 ($2.99/box)


*Kraft Easy Mac (18 pouches): $6.19
     Total  Cost: $ 6.19 ($0.34/pouch)


Group Total Purchase: $17.18
           BJ's Coupon: $5.00
           Total Cost: $12.18

Target Shopping Trip...Take 2

So this last week, I printed a Target coupon for money off the Tag Reading Pen. We had already decided we probably would not put the extra expense out for it since B got the Tag Jr. for Thanksgiving break, but after this week's ads and the coupon; we could not resist.

Leapfrog Tag Learning System Pen:

Target originally had it on sale for $34.89 (usually $35.99+)

Toys R Us was running a sale on it for $24.99

*Did you know Target price matches with a current competitor flyer (well I did not until last night when I saw  TRU's price and researched it)

Plus, Target had their coupon for $7 off the price....

So after Tax, I walked away with a brand-new Leapfrog Tag Pen for $19.07!!!


I consider that a success...

Today's Savings/Shopping Adventure

All About Kids Consignment Sale

• MegaBlocks Take n Play Car Set....$10 (a bit high since we realized it was missing the 2 cars, but it kept B occupied and we couldn't resist

Once Upon A Child

• Denim Levi Shorts $4.50
• Carter's Khaki Shorts $3.50
• All-in-One Swim Trunks $4.50
• Leapfrog Draw & Learn Tablet $5.50 (looks brand new)

Goodwill

• Monday: we picked up over 60 pieces of various wooden train sets (that connect in with his Thomas sets) $14.99
• Today: Cozy Coupe $3.99 (now I will say it has seen better days, but we will probably scrub it down, take off most of the decals/stickers and give it some TLC (cleaning & loving), but who could wrong

Winn Dixie

• 12 chicken legs $5.19
• Kraft's new seasoning pack $1.50 (after $1.00 off coupon just for purchasing chicken...mmkay? sure no problem)
• 6x 2pc hamburger patties (93% lean)...each pack was anywhere from $1.98 to $2.12 (we are super picky on our meat and only want the ultra lean meats so typically have to get the butcher cut but then can rarely score any deals....between these and the chicken we have the major part of our meat need for the next few weeks...will need to pick up more ground turkey but between tonight's stash and our bi-monthly chicken breast run at BJ's we are set for 2-3 months

Target Shopping Trip...

3.22.12 Shopping Trip

Huggies Slip-on Diapers- 92 ct.  *CLEARANCE* @ $23.78

                                                  Manufacturer Coupon -$2.00

Huggies Wipes Pack- 80ct. $1.97 

                                                 Manufacturer Coupon -$0.50

                                                 TARGET coupon -$2.50 

 Total Cost: $20.75 (2 months of diapers & wipes..plus great for Potty Training & quick changes)

Boogie Wipes Travel Pack $3.59

                                                  TARGET coupon -$1.00     

Total Cost: $2.59 (1 allergy heavy month of wipes)

My First Crayola Markers $4.99

                                                 Manufacturer Coupon -$1.00

                                                 TARGET coupon -$1.00

Total Cost: $2.99 (addition to Easter Basket)

Beneful Baked Delights Dog Treats 2x $3.89

                                                  Manufacturer Coupon (BOGO) -$3.89

                                                 TARGET coupon -$1.00

Total Cost: $2.89 (2 boxes of dog treats...lasts about 4 months+ between the trio...Easter Bucket stuffer)

Easter M&M's   2x $2.89          

                                                 Manufacturer Coupon -$1.00

                                                 TARGET coupon -$1.50       

Total Cost: $3.28 (2 bags of M&M's for Easter Treats & Cookies)