Precious Cargo: 21st Century "Baby on Board" Revamp Contest!

Child seat safety.

Why is that important and what does it have to do with you?

Well, either one of two options is true for you:

1. You have a child of your own and their safety is very important to you.  
2. You were once a child yourself and with the help of someone else, you have survived childhood. 

Either way, congratulations!  This post is targeting those of you with little ones on board with you when you are behind the wheel.

In an earlier post, I talked about how important it is to find a car seat you feel comfortable using for your little one.  For my husband and I, we are looking for something that is user-friendly, it must be durable and equipped with modern safety features, and if possible, something aesthetically pleasing!  We have absolutely loved our Baby Trend Expedition Travel System over the last year.  I kid you not when I say we have really gotten our fair share of use out of it and it has really stood up to all we've put it through.  (For example: We checked the car seat and base when we flew this Christmas and aside from it getting dirty, we had no issues!)

It's hard to believe that it was a year ago when Tony first installed the car seat for the first time just outside of the hospital the day we brought Presley home.  Thankfully, I wasn't the one to install it for the first time - written directions are not my favorite things and depending on the make and model of your car and car seat, it can be VERY difficult.  It's not surprising to me that 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly, thus, leaving those 3 out of 4 kids in jeopardy of injury if an accident were to occur.  Thankfully, there are so many helpful websites out there to offer support and further instruction (see below for a list of helpful resources).  If you are unsure, I highly recommend searching for car seat inspection locations near you... almost every fire or police station should offer this service completely free of charge.

Courtesy of 21st Century Insurance

I recently discovered a contest that 21st Century Insurance is currently holding in hopes to find creative new versions of the old "Baby on Board" signs.  One entry will be featured each week - and if yours is picked as a weekly feature you will get $100 towards a new car seat!  Think that's wonderful?  (Because I do!)  The big winner at the end is eligible for a $10,000 nursery makeover!  How incredible is that?  I don't know a single parent out there who couldn't put that to fantastic use in their child's room.  So moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers, aunts, uncles, friends... no matter who you are, I implore you to put on your thinking caps, get inventive, and have a little fun with it!  The rules and instructions can be found on the 21st Century Insurance website or found here.  All different mediums are encouraged - with or without the typical signage - to signify what "Baby on Board" means to you!  So whether you're doing it for the awesome prizes or to raise awareness for safe driving, especially when young children are involved, visit 21st Century Insurance's website and show some love to a fantastic company for putting such a great contest on!

*Car seat installation videos - safercar.gov 

*Child Seats: Ease of Use Ratings - nhtsa.gov

Our last first.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Today marks our "last first" as we've been calling it around our house... meaning, this is the last time we'll be celebrating one of Presley's first holidays!  Last Valentines Day I honestly don't remember what we did, but I do remember thinking, "Wow! This is the last holiday that it will be just the two of us!"  And here we are again - except now we've kinda come full circle.

Tony wants to start a tradition where he takes Presley out on Valentine's Day every year.  He got the idea from one of his work buddies who has done this for his daughters on every Valentine's Day.  The sneaky parental part of this that Tony especially likes is that once she gets to the point where she's dating, Presley will have to turn down her boyfriend on Valentine's Day because of the traditional date she has with her daddy every year!  Genius, right??  I think the idea is so precious and I hope it is something I can watch every year as she gets older.

We decided not to do anything too huge for Valentine's Day this year for several reasons... we are cheap-o's who don't have a money tree growing in our backyard, Presley is still so little and won't remember anything, and also because her first birthday and her birthday party are coming up this weekend and next week!  But we did want to do a little celebrating so we decided to visit Cracker Barrel for the first time in over a year!!!  It's always been one of our absolute favorite places and it did not disappoint.  I think Presley enjoyed herself, too!  Presley got her first taste of cornbread and mac & cheese there tonight and she is hooked.  Oh, and as if dinner wasn't fabulous enough, Tony got me the sweetest gifts!  He got me some delicious candy, a card that made me cry (SO sweet!), a certificate for a manicure/pedicure, and a certificate for a hand/foot/head massage!!!!  I feel completely unworthy of such special treatment - but I sure can't wait to get pampered!  Presley and I have one thoughtful valentine.

Here are some of Presley's Valentine looks...

OshKosh Overalls with pink hearts from her Grandmommy

The fabulous Babies R Us clearance dress I've been waiting to dress her up in for a year!

More clearance clothes - this time from The Children's Place - tutu and leggings with a "my heart belongs to daddy" tee

The bow didn't last long!  It's also a clearance item from Von Maur.

Hope everyone enjoyed the day just as much if not more than any other day!  And Presley, if you do read this someday, I had such a blast with you on your first Valentine's Day.  I hope that you will always be one of my best friends throughout our time together because you certainly are now!  We love you so much, even when you are being naughty!!!

PS... get excited for some fun upcoming posts - a post about our recent family pictures, one on the subject of child seat safety including a fun contest, and Presley's birthday party this weekend!

Marriage Mondays: A Marriage Covenant

Well, you might be curious as to why I am talking about Monday when it is Tuesday...

Once a week, I want to focus on a topic I feel very enthusiastic about these days and that is marriage.  Every marriage.  It's so very easy to get swept up into the monotony of the day-to-day and forget just how important it is to acknowledge our significant others and their need to feel special.  If we married folks don't start supporting our spouses and our marriages, who will?  Tony and I have been married just under two years and it's funny how quickly that "wedded bliss" magic wears off... not just within our marriage but our "magical" appeal to others.

And that is absolutely okay!  It is unrealistic to go into a marriage expecting to stay on that honeymoon high for the rest of our lives.  Because without the valleys we can't have the peaks now can we?  It is important to me that Tony and I actively care for our marriage; to make being together fun and functional.  It is important to me to support our friends and family members' marriages to aid in health and happiness.  It's important to me to be a light for those who are moving towards marriage in the future, even in the slightest way.

So, for the first (belated) Marriage "Monday", I am going to talk about one of my favorite relationship therapists, Phillip McGraw.  This would be no other than Dr. Phil!  I have partially read and participated in the activities he lays out in his book "Relationship Rescue" with Tony and would love to start again and finish it in 2013!  You hear "rescue" and you immediately think of a troubled relationship.  While it is certainly meant to help relationships that are suffering, it is also intended to refurbish happy and content relationships as well.  I highly recommend getting the book (you can find it on Amazon for $.01 + shipping!) and working on it simultaneously with your spouse.

One thing that I absolutely look forward to is constructing a marriage covenant between Tony and I (and God) and getting it up in our home to be a focal point of our lives.  I think it's a beautiful and intimate thing to share the goals in our hearts with one another - to say them out loud - and to compose goals and plans to aid, strengthen, and guide our marriage through all things.

The marriage covenant will be all about defining your relationship in terms of your hopes, dreams and commitments. It can become like the North Star — a reference point upon which you can constantly focus to keep your relationship on track.

Dr. Phil, Relationship Rescue - a marriage covenant

I think this is a fabulous opportunity to bond with your significant other - whether or not marriage is a part of that relationship.  But enough about what I think - what do you think?  Do you and your significant other have a covenant, motto, or creed that you identify with?  Do you plan on creating one?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

If you would like to contribute to "Marriage Mondays" in any capacity, I welcome you to contact me at 20may2011{at}gmail{dot}com - whether you'd like to guest blog on a topic you feel passionate about, maybe you have a story from your own marriage you wouldn't mind sharing with me so I can mention it in an upcoming blog, or if you come across an article you think might be helpful to others... I would be grateful to hear from you!

Letters.

Dear Tuesday, I have high hopes for you.  I am looking forward to our weekly family Chick-Fil-A outing as if it's a breath of fresh air!  I am also hoping that I can make it a very productive day all around and keep that energy flowing throughout the rest of the week!

Dear Presley, I think my favorite sight in the world is the cheesy smile that you do these days... it warms my heart and soul.  You are so sweet and beautiful that it is hard for me to believe you are mine.  Your daddy and I are constantly taken aback by the things you do and your reactions to the world around you.  I just hope that I can return the favor by being an amazing mom for you because you deserve that and so much more!

Dear hubby, You are so great to me.  Thank you for all the sweet things you do for me and for Presley.  I know I don't tell you enough how much I appreciate it all.  Thank you for always entertaining my wild ideas and for believing in me!  I can't wait to spend our first special valentine's day together with our tiny valentine!  I love you two so much more than anything!

Dear body, I cannot believe it has been a year since I carried a baby inside of my body.  I cannot BELIEVE it's been a year since my labor and delivery.  I cannot believe it has nearly been an entire year since the moment when Presley laid on me for the first time, ever.  It doesn't matter how disappointed I am with the current state of my body... when I remember all the magic that came from these changes, I can't help but be in awe of everything that has happened in the last year and a half.

Dear Lent, I am so unprepared mentally and emotionally for you.  I have to be honest, we have not been attending church regularly AT ALL and that is the main reason why I am feeling so unprepared.  However, after talking to a friend, Megan, and my sister... I believe one of the things I need to take a break from for the next 40 days is Facebook.  It holds a large amount of my time and attention throughout any given day and I can't say that I've ever taken an extended time away from Facebook in the last six years (aside from my week-long honeymoon).  I just hope I am up for the task and that I can make the most of the time it frees up!

Dear junk, Please... vacate our house, PRONTO!

Dear February, This month we will celebrate surviving the first YEAR of parenthood.  We.  Survived.  And Presley will be ONE next week - which means we will be celebrating this upcoming weekend.  I am so excited to see our friends and family to have some fun!

Dear breastfeeding, Speaking of year anniversaries... I can't believe Presley and I are getting ready to hit the year mark in our breastfeeding relationship!  I swore if I made it to 12 months that I would quit the second that I had the chance - but the funny thing is I don't see that happening anytime soon.  I don't want to brag or jinx myself, but Presley has been in good health all year and I contribute a great part of that to breastfeeding.  She just had her first cold (runny nose, congestion, etc.) last week and it is hardly worth mentioning.  I realize how lucky we are and I really am nervous to break our breastfeeding relationship anytime soon!  (Breastfeeding moms, when did you end breastfeeding your little one?  And how was their health after the fact?)

Dear weather, I can't wait for the weather to warm up just a bit.  Today was bitterly cold!  And I can't wait to start complaining about the warm weather!!!  Spring is JUST around the corner... only five more weeks!

Dear nighttime, What a love/hate relationship we have.  I am exhausted throughout the day and so enjoy my alone time at night.  It's something that has been the same since I can remember and I don't foresee anything changing.  Any tips?

Dear life, You are certainly unpredictable at times and often catch me by surprise - but that is so much part of the beauty of being human; we are often surprised at how different our plans are from reality.

Dear bloggies, I can't wait to post about the family pictures we had made over the weekend!  They turned out so beautifully and we had such a fantastic photographer.  Until then, ENJOY your week!

Words from my 19-year-old self.

As some of you may know, I have been blogging for a long time now, though it always hasn't been here on Blogspot.  Sometimes I like to go back and read the musings of my former self through the years.  I stumbled across this entry and my jaw all but fell on the ground considering I wrote such a similar post just a few weeks ago (Top 5 Reasons Why I Love My Hubby) because I did not remember that this entry existed!  It floors me to be able to read these things now and then and mostly that these things are about the same man!  It's exciting to see where we are headed by looking at where we have been and knowing where we are now in our marriage.  This is one of the reasons I keep blogging - it is SO rewarding.

So, without hesitation, here is an entry from my former blog (complete with pictures) from August 10, 2007:

5 Reasons Why I know I want to marry Tony someday:

He protects me: He is very careful of my feelings so he doesn't hurt them, he respects me completely, he tries hard not to hurt me at all, he sticks up for me, and he is always there if I need him. I feel very safe around him. When I'm sick, he takes care of me, and he is SO selfless about it. He is always making sure I'm alright.

He makes me feel like one in a million: Not only does he remember all my favorite things, but he treats me by surprising me with them all the time. He does the SWEETEST, kindest, nicest things for me and doesn't expect - or even want - recognition for it. He does those things because he honestly loves me and wants to see me smile and make me happy. He doesn't look at other girls in front of me and tells me I am the only one for him... he acts like he only has eyes for me.

He loves me, knowing all my imperfections and shortcomings: Seriously, I fart on this guy and he still likes me... haha. But really- I tell him everything from what I'm feeling to venting to him about what upsets me. He listens to me, he is so patient, and he rarely ever loses his temper with me (and I am a provoker!!!). I am such a brat and instead of hating me he makes me feel like I'm not crazy. He helps me become a better person - whether its just being a better sharer or making major changes in myself because of how great he is to me.

He is sure of us: He doesn't go back & forth about his feelings for me, no matter what. He tells me he knows we are going to get married and when he talks about having kids of his own in the future, I'm always part of that.

He is my home: He is my rock- he is what I ALWAYS turn to and lean on when I am not feeling strong enough to do it myself. When I am with him even if I have a million things to worry about he has a way of putting his arms around me (yeaaah its cheesey, but true) and just calming me down. When I was away from him it was a really tough thing for me to do because he is such a big part of me. I feel so comfortable around him and I don't know what I would do without that comfort.

Hope you enjoyed.  If you love somebody, let them know why and just how much you adore them for you NEVER know when you will get the chance again!  Happy Tuesday and have a wonderful night.

Homemade Baby Wipes Tutorial (Easy & Inexpensive!)

As a thrifty stay-at-home mom, I am always looking for creative ways to stretch our dollars.  If you are a mom who has ever purchased baby wipes, you know that without coupons or store deals, they can get pretty pricey!  Not to mention, your child may have a bad reaction to certain brand, so you can't always just grab whatever is least expensive on any given week.  In addition to that, I have heard all kinds of rumors about the additives in commercial baby wipes which makes me very leery to use them on my little one.

I am not an extreme couponer (or really an extreme anything for that matter) and I don't buy newspapers for coupons mostly because I am too cheap and lazy.  But what I do love is online coupons and I use them often!  I currently stumbled upon the Healthy Essentials website which is simple to use and while they offer just a few coupons, they're for great products.  Healthy Essentials is currently offering $1/Johnson's Baby Oil and $1/Johnson's Baby Wash which will cut down the cost of these homemade baby wipes considerably!

With that being said, I stepped out on a branch and decided to make some baby wipes for Miss Presley right here in our house!

Here are the 5 things you will need:

• 1 Paper Towel Roll (You will need an unused roll.  For the purpose of this "recipe" of baby wipes, however, you will only be using half of the roll.)
• 1 Tablespoon of Baby Oil (1 Tablespoon = .5 Ounce)
• 2 Tablespoons of Baby Wash (2 Tablespoons = 1 Ounce)
• 2 cups of Boiled Water (maybe a little bit less water?)
  
• 1 Container (One that is big enough to contain half a roll of your favorite paper towel brand; I used a tupperware-type container from the Dollar Tree which will cost you a whopping $1!  Though, I imagine a large Ziploc bag would work as well.)

I started by boiling the two cups of water in order to sterilize the water.  (You could also use distilled water from the store.)  While the water was heating up, gather your supplies! 

*Side note:  If you use boiled water, you want to wait for it to COOL DOWN all the way before pouring it on the paper towel roll!*

I got one of the largest knives in my knife block and started cutting the paper towel roll in half.  At first I used a bread knife but that made a complete mess - so I started using our santoku/chef knife and that worked much better.

This is the result of cutting the paper towel roll in half - not anything too difficult!

Next, you are going to carefully pull the cardboard roll away and out of the roll of paper towels.  Again, this is easy-peasy.  Afterwards, set the roll down into your container (I faced the side I just cut downward) and begin mixing your ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.

And let me just tell you, this smells MAGICAL!
It is honestly that sweet baby smell that is incredibly infectious.

Finally, pour the solution all over the roll of paper towels - don't be shy! - make sure you pour the solution over the entire roll. 

Once the solution was added, I put the lid on my container and let it sit for about 10-20 minutes.  Then I flipped the container upside down and let it sit for another 10-20 minutes so the solution could settle in all over the roll.  And voila, you've got some fantastic smelling, homemade baby wipes!


Here is the price breakdown:

• 2 cups of water: FREE!  (If you use your at home tap water & boil it beforehand.)
• Bounty Paper Towel 3 Pack of 103 - 2 ply sheets: paid $4.99
  =$.83/half roll, which is what I used for this "recipe"
• 20 oz. Equate Baby Oil: paid $2.47
  =$.06/tablespoon, which is the amount I used for this "recipe"
• 28 oz. Johnson's Baby Wash: paid $3.97 (orig. $4.97 before $1 coupon found here)
  =$.14/ounce, which is the amount I used for this "recipe"

Total Spent: $1.05 for 103 baby wipes!
*compare to $2.37 for a 64 ct. of commercial wipes online
 

My purpose for sharing this is to simply encourage all parents out there that if you have been considering making your own wipes, that it is very doable!  It's very cost-effective (especially considering that most parents have these few items on hand) and doesn't take any time at all to put together.  So don't be intimidated because if I can do it, so can you!  As we start putting these wipes to good use, I will make sure to update on how the review of how we like the wipes as well as our favorite paper towel brands to use!

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Miscellaneous.

So, I bought this adorable little dress last year for Presley to wear this year for Valentine's Day.  It's precious and has little hearts all over it and my favorite part is that I got it after the holiday so it was super clearanced out!  The worst part is that I've had to stare at it for a YEAR hanging in her closet before getting to dress her up in it.  Since it's officially February now, I am finding all kinds of excuses to finally put her in it.  I'm thinking about putting her in it this weekend for church!  And of course on Valentine's Day when she goes on a date with her mommy and daddy!  Can't wait for that and of course I will post about it afterwards.  This will be her last "first" holiday since her birthday is less than a week after Valentine's Day, so she wasn't here to celebrate with us last year.  And then two days after her last first holiday is her FIRST BIRTHDAY!


February is going to be such a fun month; this weekend is the Superbowl, next weekend I've scheduled family/first birthday pictures, and the following weekend is Presley's birthday party.  We were going to do cake smash pictures but Tony and I decided we wanted her first time digging into some yummy cake to be at her party and I just can't wait to see her reaction.  I've decided to make her a pumpkin flavored cake and I can't wait to post about it!  And for her birthday party we're going to get some pizza with friends and family a the weekend before her actual birthday.  It'll be a blast!  So far all we've gotten her (and all we really plan to get her) is a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe!  Though, I'm sure as her birthday gets closer I will start justifying small gifts for her here and there.

In other news... I've gotten so fed up with my post-baby body lately and it mostly stems from the fact that I'm not really doing anything about it.  (Stupid winter...)  I've thought about joining a local gym that's only $10/month, but until I make up my mind about the gym, I've started doing a pre-shower mini workout routine.  (The base of the routine is... 50 jumping jacks, 5 pushups, 20 crunches, 20 mountain climbers, 30 second plank, & arm routine with my weights.  It doesn't seem like very much of a routine, but it's a start and it really is what I need to get started because it's not a HUGE commitment.)  I'm only 10 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight but those ten pounds look dramatically different on a mommy's body!  I gained some weight back after I stopped doing the couch to 5k program - which I hope to start back once spring hits. 

That's about all for tonight, but I hope everybody is busy having a fantastic and relaxing weekend!  Soak it up.