My Black Friday

Well if you know me at all you know that I LOVE a good deal. So naturally Black Friday would be thrilling for me. I'd been scouting the ads for weeks before they even came out...who knew they are leaked and scanned online for all to see. This year we are on a tight budget being on one income so I have very specific things I want for people and only a certain amount of money. So here's how my Black Friday went down.

Thursday morning...I'd heard that many places offer their doorbusters online on Thanksgiving...Kohls was one of them...I helped my mom get a gift for someone and got the good deal PLUS an extra 15% off through ebates (and 4% cash back) and we didn't have to wait in line for when they opened at 3am...

Thursday night...Toys R Us opened at 10pm...we get there at 9:30...see like a thousand people in line in the freezing cold and decide it's not worth it.

Friday morning...I get up around 7, eat breakfast, and leave about 7:30am. My strategy was if what I want is still there then it's meant to be. So I decide to try out Toys R Us and even though it's very busy they still had almost everything in their ad and there was hardly a line to check out...score!
Then I moved on to Target...What I really wanted for Ben was there at half off and they had 2 left so I now have enough left in my budget to get him a few more things!
I also stopped and Bible's Plus, and Joanns but that was just for little things...Joanns had the longest line to check out of any of the other stores...and I wasn't crazy enough to stand in the line to get fabric cut either...LOL Though I did notice they still had alot of their doorbusters left when I was there at 9am which I don't think they did last year.

Saturday night...Kyle and I are bored and I figure what the heck I'll check out Kohl's deals for kids holiday clothes and I have a gift card so I found Kyle the pants and shirt I want to go with his sweater vest for Christmas for $18 (normally $36!).

And thus ended my weekend of shopping. I would have bought alot more if it was in my budget. I just love shopping for people and getting them the perfect gift.

My online shopping has begun and will continue for the next few weeks. I've discovered all the great deals on books and other things I can get on Amazon rather than buying in-store and signing up for Amazon.com/ mom (free) gives me free shipping for 3 months!

I've also been using my Swagbucks to buy gift cards for Amazon and Paypal which has been helping too! Remember....all these money saving things like ebates, shopathome, swagbucks, and amazon mom are all FREE. So click on the links to sign up today and start saving!

One Year Later

What a difference one year makes...

Next year I will have a 2 1/2 year old(almost) and an 8 month old playing with it together...I will definitely be getting a picture...

Get 20% OFF for Cyber Monday!

I've added lots of new things to my etsy shop including these cute zipper rings for only $10!! Use the coupon code CYBERMONDAY through Friday 12/3 to get 20% OFF anything in my shop!!

Thanksgiving 2010

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving!

I love this shirt! Got it at Kohls.

Kyle's first Thanksgiving food...remember him last year???

Our little growing family...I hate pics where I just look fat and not pregnant..


Us and my parents and sister! (Don't you like our color coordination...boys in brown, girls in fall colors!)

My WHOLE extended family...There are alot of us...so fun!

The day was busy but good...I got up the next morning and went SHOPPING!....more about that to come...

Raking leaves

Yesterday we learned how much fun raking leaves can be! Kyle LOVED it!

Christmas Cards

I LOVE Christmas cards! But they have to have pictures on them. How else will people get to see what happened in your life for the past year? I have gotten mine printed at various places through the year but this year I'm going to try Shutterfly! They have a promotion for bloggers to get 50 Free Photo Holiday Cards. And you know me...I love a deal!

They have so many different cards to choose from but here are my favorites! (Just click on the photo to go directly to it on Shutterfly's website)

I always want a card that says "Merry Christmas" especially because it's politically correct to say "Happy Holiday's". I want to keep the "Christ" in Christmas. I also needed one that has three pictures because I want one of our family, one of Kyle, and one ofthe 3-D ultrasound from Little Bean.

22 weeks

The first picture is with Kyle and the second is this time around. I definitely feel like I am carrying lower this time...and I didn't think that was possible cause Kyle was so low.

How far along? 22 weeks
Baby is the size of a Naval orange
Weight gained- 15 lbs
Movement- I can tell he's getting bigger because the kicks are stronger and I can feel when he pokes an arm or leg out.
Everything else is pretty much the same
I'm looking forward to all the Thanksgiving food...yum!!

Don't worry I'm just fine

Not that any of you were worried...but I've had a little blogging break last week. It was a week of birthday's in our family (including mine) so something had to give. Here is a cute pic of Kyle I took this morning after I just couldn't stand his hair anymore and cut it! I think he looks so big!

This week I also realized that Kyle and I both need more structure to our days. It was easy when he was napping 3 times a day and was only awake in 1 hour stretches, but now that he's dropped his morning nap we've got 5 hours to fill and both him and I have been just trying to make it through the morning! Kyle's always done better when his time was more structured and I do to, though I don't always like it.

One of the things I'm doing is adding actual roomtime, free play time, and mommy/daddy playtime, instead of me constantly saying, "Kyle go play with your toys." As he get's older I can do more activities with him like games, and crafts and videos and stuff. He just has a super short attention span right now.

20 Weeks

How far along? 20 weeks! (more than halfway there if he's early like Kyle)
Size of baby? The size of an apple
Weight gained? 9 lbs a month ago...we'll find out Fri.
Maternity clothes: Wore a cute new shirt yesterday. Still fit into most of my regular shirts...hoping to get a new pair of pants this weekend!
Gender: Still boy with no name yet...LOL
Movement: He is so low I told Ben I think he might fall out sometimes...The ultrasound tech had to push hard to get her measurements cause she said he was hiding behind my pubic bone...I guess he should enjoy all the room while he has it.
Sleep: Some nights are great, others I wake up with my back hurting or to eat/pee
Cravings: Chocolate isn't so icky anymore but I love soups and anything salty
Symptoms: Tired...going to bed at like 8:30. I'm feeling so much better anxiety/nausea wise. My thyroid levels are back up to normal range so that's why. But I'm happy about it for sure.
Best moment of this week: When I picked Kyle up from spending the night and the first thing he wanted to do is lift up my shirt and kiss the baby...so cute!

19 weeks

Pregnancy highlights
How far along: 19 weeks
Total weight gained: 9lbs
Maternity clothes: still needing to buy a new pair of pants...I think my feet are starting to swell a little already; some shoes are a little tight.
Gender: all boy!
Movement: I feel more and more...
Sleep: Ok, been having bizarre dreams lately
What I miss: having all the energy in the world
Craving: all the halloween candy was good :)
Symptoms: Tired...appetite is up and down.
Best moment of the week: Finding out Little Bean is a he and telling everyone!

Kyle's 2nd Halloween

Kyle's dinosaur/dragon costume

I just love the little tail!

With daddy getting ready for the fall festival

Eating cotton candy with mommy!

Finally getting to eat his favorite candy...a tootsie pop!

It's a boy!!

It's a boy!! We are so excited for Kyle to have a little brother. No names yet but we're working on it. The baby looks really good and healthy, praise God! He looks so much like Kyle from the ultrasound pictures. It will be interesting to see what he looks like when he's born. They are going to share a room and both move into the office so we'll get to decorate a whole new room for 2 little boys! I'm excited. We're thinking of a space theme right now, but haven't decided for sure. Kyle current room will become the guest room/office so that will be nice to keep that space.

Fall Photo Shoot

Today Kyle and I had a little photo shoot like last year. He wasn't all that cooperative but we got a couple good shots :)

Like father, like son

Kyle wants to be just like his daddy.

18 weeks

Compared to with Kyle...My house was so clean back then...LOL

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gained: 9 lbs.

Maternity clothes: Luckily longer shirts is the style so I won't have to wear my maternity shirts for a while yet. I still need a couple pairs of pants but have to wait for the funds.

Gender: will find out friday! I feel like it's a girl this time.

Movement: Some days I feel a lot, some days not so much. He/she seems to be more of a night owl than Kyle. He was always kicking in the morning, this one kicks at night more.

Sleep: Awesome since I got my special pillow.

What I miss?: Loving food like I did before I was pg.

Craving: Salty stuff still, and candy, but not cookies or cake.

Symptoms: Nausea if I don't eat as soon as I start to feel hungry. Tired by 9pm. Some heartburn.

Best moment of this week: When Kyle lifts my shirt to pat my belly when I ask where the baby is. LOL