so it begins...

My stockpile, that is.  Or my home storage.  Poh-tay-toh, poh-tah-toh... Whatever you'd like to call it, it has begun.  After only a month of clipping coupons and matching sales ads, I have accumulated a decent stockpile.  And it's so easy.  The work is already done for me, so all I really have to do is turn on the computer, visit my coupon gurus' websites, print out a list, and head to the stores. Notice I said stores. Yes. I now shop at more than one place.  It's the only way to get all the great deals.

I write about how simple this is, and in theory, it is. However, a certain television program has caused quite a stir, and what used to be a casual jaunt down the condiment aisle has become an all-out roller derby event, loaded with shopping carts and coupon binders as obstacles.

At any rate, and even when I find tumble weeds where the ketchup is supposed to be, I have to say I've been pretty successful.  For a month of work! Who knew that grocery shopping could make me so happy? (Did I mention that, over the last month, in my weekly shopping trips to two different grocery stores and three different drug stores, I have completely stocked my pantry, fridge, and built a stockpile of toiletries, cleaning supplies, and non-perishables for under $100?!?!)

What you can't see is the ten tubes of toothpaste, six toothbrushes, and eight containers of floss in the black wicker basket.

Cleaning supplies are expensive! (But not with coupons!!!)

Holy condiments Batman!

We will quite possibly have to scour craigslist for a used freezer.

Yo Gabba Gabba!!

Most parents reading this will probably take one look at this title and cringe; I, however, have a confession. I love Yo Gabba Gabba as much as Bryan does. Almost. For now anyway.

I didn't think a little boy could be entertained by puppets on television so early, but alas, he can. And he LOVES them!!! The intensity with which he watches the screen is amazing, and the smiles and laughs that ensue will melt your heart. My next splurge at the toy store has got to be a stuffed Muno or Brobee.

I know, I know, I can prevent real and future obsessions if I nip this in the bud right now, but I can't. He simply has too much fun sitting in his big boy chair watching his favorite life-size puppets dance around. And I LOVE watching him, so for now, Yo Gabba Gabba it is!!

what a 3 1/2 month old loves...

We have the cutest baby in the world, and no, we're not biased at all!  He's just so laid back, happy, and GOOD! He's so good that I wonder how we could have possibly gotten THAT lucky (and we're crossing our fingers that it is, in fact, our superb parenting skills and demeanor that have produced such an impeccably perfect little boy, and not a fluke occurrence never to be repeated again.)  But I digress...

Our little man, like I said before, is very laid back and happy, which I'm sure is a precursor to his future surfer self.  There really isn't much that he doesn't like. However, there are a few things that he is REALLY fond of.

• laying on his play mat and batting at Mr. Monkey
• playing Superman on Mommy's legs
• laughing when Mommy makes funny faces and Daddy sticks his tongue out
• saying "hello" to the baby in the mirror
• grandparents and great-grandparents
• reading in Mommy's lap
• cuddling with his favorite blanket and monkey during nap time (I know, I listed nap time as one of his "likes")
• sitting up like a big boy (in Bumbo chairs, high chairs, strollers, on the couch, any place where he feels like a big boy)
• swimming in the bathtub
• "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The Wheels on the Bus"
• food
• fans, in any shape or color
• walks in his baby carrier
• car rides and road trips
• his fingers and tongue

road trippin

Since Daddy is gone this week (insert sad face here), Bryan and I decided to head down to the Outer Banks with the dogs.  I figured it would help pass the time for a few days and Jojo would get a chance to oooh and aaah over little man.  I literally packed up half of the house for the trip and masterfully loaded it all in the car.  The necessities of our mini-vacation were strategically shoved into every nook and cranny, and I so wish I wasn't such a blog rookie, or I would have documented my awesome "real life" Tetris skills.

We drove, we sang, Bryan napped, I yelled at the dogs for trying to jump into the backseat; but, all in all, it was a smooth trip.  I actually don't know why I get so nervous before I take him anywhere, because he never ceases to amaze me; he's that good!  And just look at that face, c'mon!!


Ready to hit the road...

Bryan experienced a few "firsts" this week, too!  He went on a maiden voyage in his big boy stroller, which was a total success.  He grinned from ear to ear the whole time, and he didn't even seem to mind the bright sun in his eyes.  As we walked, he talked to me in our own special language and just took it all in like he always does.  Such an alert, observant boy!  The dogs were excited at first, but the near ninety degree heat soon put a damper on their spirits, and I was darn near pulling them for the last leg of the trip.  

"Look at me, Mom!  I'm a big boy now!"

This is post-walk.  Notice the tongues nearly on the concrete.  It was H-O-T! Poor things...

Bryan also got to hang out in the beach high chair while I drank my morning coffee (This really only fits into the "firsts" category because I never drink coffee at home.)  I think he really felt like a big boy chewing on his rattle at the breakfast table while I sipped the sweet elixir of the gods...

"My breakfast is better than yours, Mom."

As if you thought he couldn't get any cuter, guess what?  He rolled from his back to his belly (with a tiny pinky finger nudge from mommy) and it was, by far, the most adorable thing EVER!  He was so surprised and proud of himself when he realized he was no longer on his back but was now experiencing some self-induced tummy time.  It was a spur-of-the-moment event, so of course, I didn't get it on video.  Just imagine the most adorable boy in the world performing the most adorable act, and that's pretty much how it looked.  (In the meantime, here's one of he and Jojo playing on his activity mat, and I promise I'll try to get better at documenting my son's amazing milestones.)

To top off the week of "firsts," my baby boy got his first boo boo.  Now, before you get all teary-eyed at the thought of him weeping in pain, don't!  He didn't have the slightest idea that he'd just hurt himself.  He was playing in his jumperoo (which he LOVES, by the way, especially now that he can touch the floor, bounce, and has discovered he can actually reach out and grab the hanging toys.)  He must have been reaching really far for his dangling zebra, because the next thing I knew, he banged his head on his plastic frog and got a huge red lump on his forehead (accompanied, of course, by a ginormous smile because he actually touched Mr. Zebra!)  Hopefully this lack of care for bodily injuries is a sign of things to come, and he'll be one of those "no fear" little boys who climbs trees and plays in the mud all day!

I guess it's a pretty small "first" boo boo, but I'm getting better at documenting things, right?!

Okay, his bump isn't that bad at all, but I couldn't resist.  I had to add this one!  He loves pretending to be shy for the camera.

We had a great trip, but we are glad to be home because that means Daddy gets back soon.  Bring on Friday, PLEASE!!

ten signs you are the mother of an infant… (and love every second of it)

10. You have been peed, pooped, and/or thrown up on (sometimes within minutes of each other) and it has not phased you in the slightest.

9. Similarly, you almost always carry out your daily routine with some form of spit-up on your shoulder, and you will probably never learn to put that darn burpcloth up there.

8. Your iPod has become overrun with Baby Einstein tracks.

7. Similarly, your DVR has become overrun with Yo Gabba Gabba episodes.

6. Every time to venture to Walmart, Target, or anywhere else with a baby department, you are drawn to it like a paperclip to a magnet, hoping they’ve gotten new stock in since the last time you visited (which was yesterday).

5. Your living room design plan now consists of playmats, bouncy seats, and jumperoos, and your trendy West Elm furniture is collecting dust in the garage.

4. You know every word to “You are my Sunshine,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “The Wheels on the Bus,” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” 

3. You have no problem making funny faces and speaking in your highest pitched voice through the aisles of every store you frequent.

2. You cannot remember the last time to actually purchased something for yourself.

1. You cannot even imagine your life without this tiny person in it.