The Wonderful World of Coupons

Well, it's official, over the last month, I have entered the world of coupons and I'm loving it!  Once I made the decision to stay at home, I knew A LOT of things were going to need to change for us now that our budget had been cut in half.  One of my dear friends, Holly is a coupon queen and I have seen her save her family hundreds of dollars by using coupons, so I decided to take the challenge.

Let me start by telling you, Sunday is my new favorite day of the week, because when I wake up I have a Sunday paper waiting for me with all my coupons in it ready for me to make some deals.  It sounds silly I know, but there is a certain type of rush that you get when you realize that this week, you can purchase a bag of 40 diapers for $1.99 with coupons versus the regular price of $11.99!

It's a whole new way of thinking and a new language that you have to learn to speak.  A month ago I had no idea what someone was talking about if they used words like:  register rewards, extra care bucks, BOGO, stock pile, fillers, and the list could go on.  But now I speak the language and I kind of feel a part of the club.

Now, let me start off by saying that just because someone says they shop with coupons does not mean it is anything like what you see on the show on TLC "Extreme Couponing."  That show is actually not helping those of us that use coupons because now we are all looked upon as hoarders and trying to get everything for free.  Also, using coupons is not for everyone and I completely understand that.  It does take a little extra time and I have to travel to a few extra stores but in the end it is totally worth it!

Using coupons has allowed our family to stretch our budget for household items and groceries significantly.  I used to be a firm believer that Walmart had the best prices around and so I purchased everything from there.  Yet, I noticed at the end of every month I didn't have a lot to show for all the money I had spent.  So I decided to educate myself a little bit and take some lessons from friends to see if I could turn things around.

I started by comparing prices between Walmart and Kroger, Kroger won every time.  I also had a few hands on lessons from Holly and watched some videos on SouthernSavers.com that helped me learned how to use coupons and get money back at Walgreens and CVS.  So after just doing it a month, I am sold on the concept.  And this month instead of spending a few hundred dollars on food and household supplies with nothing to show, I have created quite a little stock pile of products that I now won't have to buy for months.  Maybe even some items for a year.

I used to think that I didn't have the time to be a "couponer."  I also used to think that I didn't have a lot of time to do a lot of things. But now that I have a baby, I realize I used to have all the time in the world, I just wasted it in front of the t.v.  I really could have saved our family hundreds of thousands of dollars just by clipping a few coupons and making a few extra stops.

But I can't go back in time, today is a new day and I'll do my best to not pay full price from here forward!

Growing up so fast

Now I know I'm biased being West's mommy, but gosh isn't he just the cutest thing you have ever seen? I love the precious expression on his face in this picture.  He's getting so big so fast, I can't take it.

Westley at 16 weeks

A picture like this is rare these days, because he usually has as much of his hand shoved into his mouth as he can get.  And this is what he looks like the most these days.

This is the new normal, as much as will fit into that sweet little mouth.

Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy each moment because it goes by so fast. Oh my goodness, they are so right.  I already wish I had a pause button to push, just so we can enjoy this stage a little bit longer.  Now that we are all getting some sleep at night, we are enjoying our lives again!  It's just so hard to believe that we have a 4 month old.  I mean he is becoming such a big boy before our very eyes.

He knows we are mommy and daddy now and smiles every time he sees us, he sleeps through the night, he already prefers to stand and be a little independent, and he's starting to laugh out loud!  You go from this little nugget that just lays there sleeping all the time to this sweet, little boy that already has a personality of his own.  Each day something new is learned and it's a blessing to be able to experience it.

You know, just when I think I'm getting the hang of this new role of being "Mom," it becomes overwhelming all over again. It's not stressful, it's just non stop.  And you never quite get a day off, it's 24/7.  I started out just focusing on feedings, changing diapers, soothing to sleep and then starting all over again.  But now it's moving at such a faster pace: dropping feedings, adding in cereal and solid foods, figuring out new nap times, teaching him to go to sleep on his own, helping learn new skills daily and I could keep listing more and more.  And this isn't even the really hard stuff yet, is it?  Wait until it's potty training, tying a shoe, learning to read, talking back, advice about girls, sports, and science projects.  My head spins if I start thinking too far ahead.

It's not stressful, just overwhelming is the best way to describe it. And I think I carry it and let it get to me more than it should because I want to be the best mommy for Westley. I want him to grow up in a home believing that he can be anything he wants to be and above all else know that he is loved.  

I just have to take a deep breath and realize I have to take it one day at a time. That's all I can do and pray that God gives me the wisdom and grace needed for each day and each new decision.  

Already 16 Weeks

It's so hard for me to believe that on Monday, Westley will be 16 weeks old.  This past week some of our friends had a new baby.  When we went to the hospital to visit them and to see their new precious little girl, I was in awe of how small she seemed.  Brad kept reminding me that Westley was that small not too long ago. Oh my, how I've already forgotten because he's already such a big boy.  It really is true how fast they grow up and how much they change even from day to day.

Westley is discovering something new almost every day and it is the highlight of my day to watch him do something for the first time.  Now to some of you, these things might seem so simple, but when you have watched your little boy every day just waiting for him to do that one new thing, it's really a miracle.

Here are a few of Westley's new tricks (I like to call them):

He has found the t.v. (he loves The Ellen Show as much as I do)

He has found his car seat toys and grabs on to them for dear life

He is learning how to sit up in a big boy chair

Tummy time has become a new favorite, now that he can lift his head up a little bit

And he is starting to look like such a big boy now that he is wearing shorts

There is still so much out there in this big world to discover.  And I'm enjoying every minute of being at home with Westley during the day so I watch him discover each of these new things. 

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is here and I'm kind of excited about the holiday since I am a new mom.  Westley has been such a gift and I am so proud to be his mommy.  I never really dreamed about being a mom and surely never thought I would love it as much as I do.  I love him so much and he has opened up a whole piece of my heart that I didn't know existed until he came along.  He has turned my world completely upside down.

Sometimes during the day when he is napping I like to just sit in his room with him and listen to him snore.  It's the sweetest sound and I'm always thankful for a just a few minutes to myself!  Today, as I sit here, I think how much I love him and how I would do anything for him. And I have to wonder, did my mom do the same thing?  

My mom and I have always been very close.  And this Mother's day I am so very grateful for her and love her more than I ever have.  Being a new mom for only a few months, I have such a greater appreciation and admiration for her and all that she does for me.  I am so appreciative for all the sacrifices she has made over the last 32 years.  She has always been there for me whenever I needed her and has been a constant encourager, friend, listening ear, and has prayed daily for me.  She is my best friend and I am just so lucky to have her as my mom!

I have always been so proud to be her daughter.  And this past year I have been especially proud of her for two reasons.  First, she stepped out of her comfort zone and took a mission trip to South Africa with our church.  It was a HUGE leap of faith for my mom.  But wow, it was such an honor to watch her fall in love with the ministry that we have worked with for years.  And to just watch her make new friends and really grow in her relationship with Christ, it was a time together that I will always cherish.

Mom and I in South Africa

Secondly, I have adored watching her a grandmother with Westley.  She goes by "Ouma," because that is the South African name for grandmother.  And oh my goodness, does Westley love his Ouma!  It has been so much fun to live close so that we can see her almost every day.  She has been the biggest help and support while adjusting to being a new mom.  I am so grateful for all that she has done for me and would have been able to survive these last few months without all of her help.

Ouma and Westley

So Happy Mother's Day, mom!  I love you so much and can't wait to honor you and spend the day together.

It's The Little Things

This towel hangs in my kitchen and I have had it for probably a year.  But for some reason today it has really hit me how true this statement really is.  I started thinking of the little things each day that mean so much to me and wanted to share a few of those.  Hopefully, to help remind each of you that every day we live is a gift and it is the little things that actually are the big things in life.  But sometimes we overlook them all because we are too busy to enjoy them.

The little things that mean so much lately:
a good night of sleep
mom's phone call in the morning to see how West slept
peering over the crib to see a huge smile sweep across West face when he sees me
a text from a friend just letting me know they are thinking of me
a random I love you text from Bradley during the day
the sweet little cooing noises West makes
watching West do something for the first time
just a few minutes to sit with Brad on the couch
making a new friend
getting something for free
a good cup of coffee in the morning
a piece of dark chocolate in the afternoon
advice on how to get a deal with a coupon
an extra minute to snuggle and kiss on West before bedtime
someone offering to help
hearing from a friend I haven't talked to in years
capturing West's big smile in a picture
sharing a facebook message with someone who understands how I'm feeling
having a few minutes to myself

Now that I'm staying at home, the pace of life has really slowed down.  Don't get me wrong, life is not just about sitting on the couch eating ice cream and watching t.v.  I still have a full-time job and in fact this one is much harder, you never actually leave or get a day off.  But with this new "job", I have realized how much we have really rushed through life over the past few years.  For so long I just wanted to stop looking at a full calendar and stop always thinking about plans for the next day, the next big event, or the next trip.  I wasn't taking time to enjoy the moment and to live in the present.

Life has drastically slowed down with our little Westley and I'm actually okay with it. I am more focused on each day and I am trying to enjoy soaking in each moment and not worry about what's coming next.  And I'm thankful for the little things these days.

What are some of the little things you enjoy?

This boy has got some hair!

I think Westley is the cutest little boy I've ever seen.  Now obviously, I'm his mom so I am going to think that.  But I may have heard from others that they think the same thing!  He does have the most precious face, but there is something else that tends to grab everyone's attention, all that HAIR!  I always enjoy everyone's reaction to it.  I constantly hear, when someone first meets him, "Oh he's so cute, oh my goodness look at all that hair."

Ahh mom, come on enough pictures!

Brad and I both were born with a head full of hair and both of our's stuck up just as wild as this little man's hair.  And by the way, no one else needs to say, "Brad, he has more hair than you do."  We've heard that about a million times already!  

But this hair definitely has a mind of it's own.  After a bath it stays slicked down on his head for only a matter of minutes.  Once it starts to dry and it just lifts right up towards the sky.  I have tried to put product on it and it doesn't make a bit of difference.  So I'm just going to go with it and let it do it's thing.  It's who he is and I love it!

I think the ladies are going to love it!

The best is the view from the back.  It's almost like a backwards mullet; a party on top and business in the back!

All I can say is, WOW!

I mean, he's going to hate these pictures one day.

Here's a couple more, enjoy!

He's not so sure about this.

If he decides to be a rock star, he'll have the perfect look.

Sweet boy, I love him so much, I can't stand it!