Is there daylight savings time with baby?

I don't know about you and yours, but it doesn't seem like we got the memo that there was an extra hour to sleep. Nope my little one still woke up; earlier now, so no extra sleep in my home. I wonder when I will ever get to enjoy the daylight saving fall back extra sleep experience again. I am completely thankful for my beautiful son, but extra sleep would really be nice. Was this the same experience for everyone else with a baby, or did your little one actually slept an extra hour?

All about MOMMY!!!

These past few days I have been focusing on me! Yup that's right. I think in order to be a good mommy there have to be times when you focus on yourself. So this week I've focused on getting a new wardrobe. I have been wearing the same few clothes for the last few months (because that's all the pre - pregnancy clothes that fit me after pregnancy) and I'm sick of it. At first I didn't want to get something new to wear because I was hoping to lose these last 4 - 5 pregnancy pounds (lucky me it fluctuates). However, as my son approaches 5 months I realized who cares about these last few pounds (since they are still here lol) it's time to get some new clothes and stop looking crazy. It also helped that my birthday is coming up - so I've got birthday cash coming my way! I went to the mall and shopped for me. It felt so good but was so hard not to venture over to the baby gap section or the girls section of Old Navy to look for things for my son and my daughter. I had to mentally remind myself don't look - today is about me. Have any of you other mothers had to do that?

Blog Mommy

Ya know, everyday I am able to think of tons of things to blog about, but somehow just can't seem to get myself to sit down in front of the computer or on my iPhone to actually blog. I think I miraculously hope the topics will jump from my mind to the computer automatically. Any one else seem to have this problem? Honestly, I know I'd feel better to get many of the things off my chest about motherhood, being a wife, and searching for a job, but the time to blog about all these these things just somehow escapes me. I mean after you've cooked dinner, bathe the baby, taken the older sister to her basketball game, made an attempt to clean the house - where is the time to blog. I'm going to try to get better even though I don't even have an audience yet, but I realize how will I get there if I don't have anything posted up for anyone to read on a regular basis. So here's to improvement - cheers! And a great big kudos to those of you that are able to blog consistently in addition to life's daily challenges.

Check your nipples!

Yep I said it! Check your nipples.... not the ones you may be thinking about, but for moms of bottle fed babies we should check our babies nipples often and upgrade them when necessary. My son is 4 months old and I just thought to do this. He uses Avent bottles so I switched to the #3 bottle, which is for babies 3 months and up. Boy, had I wished I had done this sooner. He gets to drink so much more formula now before he gets too gassy - he's one of those babies that doesn't like to take a break and get burped during a feeding. So it's great to know he's getting what he needs without having to work too hard for it. The manufacturer actually recommends replacing nipples every three months and I agree with them. It really isn't a scam to get you to buy more of their products. It is something that will really benefit your baby, so be sure to check your nipples. The next size up for us is at 6 months, so I'll be replacing them again then. When was the last time you checked your bottle nipples?

I'm Here!

I just can't tell you how much I have enjoyed being at home with my children these last few months. It is almost as if being laid off was the best thing that's happened to me. Yea, we have to budget now, but these moments with my son and daughter are priceless.

Today, I was coaching my daughter's basketball team, mind you I really do not know what I'm doing. However, watching my daughter come alive during the game - stealing the ball, shooting lay ups, blocking shots, and playing awesome defense (while I'm her coach ;-)). Priceless. Then to even see her face as she came off the court, and I gave her a high five as well as her team mates. Priceless! I even think the other girls are enjoying me being their coach, as I hear them say Mrs. Angela did you see that we're winning. Yup, we won our first game today. I know I am making an impact in those girls lives as well, as I try my best to be encouraging even when they're not playing their best. I know if I was working full - time I would have never been able to commit to such a task.

Then there is the time with my son. He will be 4 and 1/2 months this week and for all you moms out there with babies/infants you know how fast they grow. It seems like yesterday we were feeding him every two hours and had just brought him home from the hospital. Now, he is alert has his own personality, and he's trying his hardest to sit up on his own and crawl - well really scoot. For some strange reason, I think my son thinks he's 10 months old because he refuses to believe he can't get around on his own or hold his own back up to sit up. It is just too cute, but the cutest of all is that I get to catch all these moments. Once again priceless. I get to see and make him laugh and smile everyday. I'm the face he sees in the morning, afternoon, and at night, just priceless

As I continue to search for work, work life balance is very important to me, and I'm hoping God will bless me with a job where I have the flexibility to continue to be present with my children since I know I must return to work. However, I want to always be able to say, I'M HERE whenever and wherever my children need me. I think my new dream (which I'm a long way from) will be to stay home with my children (unless I find a job where I can work from home - but I think in some way I'll always work. I just want work that won't interfere with raising my family as a long term goal). I just really want to be there for them as this experience has opened new doors for me.

I've even started thinking about what we are really working for???Now, I know I must return to work to continue our lifestyle, where being in a home with both parents working affords you more. But what are we REALLY working for. I mean for some yes, you both work to keep the lights on and a roof over your family's head, but for others that this situation may not apply to what are you working for? Yes, we've become accustomed to a lifestyle, but can't we adjust if we really want to. It always bothers me to hear people say, I wish I could be a stay at home mom - when I'm thinking if you downsize from that Lincoln you probably could be. Does the American dream really mean less time with your family so you can have a bigger house, nicer car, and stylish clothes. I mean aren't those things just material, but a family - that's your permanent stamp in this world that you can't go back and have a do-over for. As a result, isn't that more important? What do you think? Feel free to share your comments below.

My two new favorite stores!!

Walgreens and CVS. Yes, drug stores. The ones that I used to always think they were super expensive. Why would I ever want to shop there on a consistent basis unless I needed medicine.

Well thanks to the Krazy Koupon Lady and Southern Savers. I have deciphered the system and I'm pretty proud of myself. See there are some perks to being home all day. Walgreen and CVS love to give you their money. It's almost like Monopoly money because you get to use it right back at their store. So each week I'm excited to get the Sunday paper to see their circulars and compare them to the coupons that I have. In many cases I end up spending only $1 - $4.00 on items that offer Walgreens registry rewards and CVS extra care bucks. I then take my savings and usually purchase baby items or other things we need. It is a fabulous system. I just hate that I hadn't discovered it sooner. I was spending a fortune in that store when I just bought things without seeking items that paid me back. Now I only purchase things that I need that are on sale and/or give me money back. I usually save anywhere for 40% - 60% on purchases. I'm hoping as I learn more about the system that percentage will grow.

To learn more about maximizing the system at Walgreens and CVS watch these videos:
Shopping at Walgreens with the Krazy Coupon Lady
Shopping at CVS with the Krazy Coupon Lady

Also, check out the Krazy Coupon Lady.com and Southern Savers.com for more information on what's on sale. Today I saved $50.00 with their help! How much have you or will you save?

Career What?

What is a mother to do?? I feel as though I have to choose between a career and being a mother. How many of you moms feel that way? 

I am in the process of looking for another job (as I was laid off from my previous one before baby) and torn with the thought of leaving my baby in daycare and having less time with my whole family. I'd love to have some adult contact, but fearful as to how our lives will change when I do return to work especially a full - time job with a full time workload (on top of the full time work load I have at home). My poor baby isn't sleep through the night so....... really that is whole other story.

At any rate, I wonder if I'll be able to handle a full time workload as I feel like a walking zombie Monday - Sunday. I don't even remember the last time I had a full night's sleep, and I don't even think I could sleep completely through the night as I am always listening for baby to wake up. On top of that, I just feel different. I almost wonder if I'm even capable of completing work that I've got many degrees and certifications in that say I can - if that makes any sense.  

Not to mention the separation anxiety I'll experience and the baby will experience as I leave him at daycare. My son won't even drink his milk when I leave him at the church day care for a few hours, so really fearful how his schedule will change as well if and when I go back to work full time.

At this point, all I can do is leave my career in God's hands. I'm continuing my search, but I'm praying and believing I'll find the job that will be best for me and my family. I also know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me so we'll see. How has it been for you other moms when you returned to work? Feel free to share your experiences as a comment below.

Exercise Ball and Baby

         Today the baby was very sleepy, over tired to be exact and any mom knows that's a bad mix. I was walking my little one to put him to sleep, which he normally likes but that wasn't working. Then I saw the exercise ball. The ball that I purchased for labor and delivery to "rock" my baby out. Well tonight I decided I'd "rock" my baby to sleep with the same ball. Guess what..... it worked! I bounced and rocked and within minutes my little one was off to dream land. I was so happy as I really needed to be able to put him to sleep without fuss because I'm tired myself. Who knew caring for a baby all day and night was so much work. So if you are ever at your wits end trying to get your baby to sleep (the lay him down when he's drowsy routine doesn't work for us at all lol), try your exercise ball. Not only will you get a mini workout, but your baby will get a soothing aid to help them fall asleep.

Two Months in the Trenches

October is quickly approaching, so I've been a SAHM while searching for a job for a few months now. I must say it is like a roller coaster ride. How might you ask? Well being a parent is a roller coaster ride period, but in this state you go through your highs and lows.
The high of seeing your baby grow and being available for all your family members, but then there is the low of the job search. Application after application and nothing. No phone calls, no inquiries, nada! So I begin to wonder if going back to work full - time is even in the cards for me despite my years of experience and multiple degrees and certifications.
I completely enjoy being my son's primary care giver, especially with him only being four months (he turned four months today:-)). I'm loving signing up to help at my daughter's school and with her extra curricular activities, but I miss the sense of self a job would bring. How crazy is that? Who even knew a job could do that.
Any who I press forward and choose to stay focused on the highs. Tonight, I'm coaching my daughter's basketball for the first time, while daddy has daddy son time. Wish me luck! Until the next post.

Who is the "new" stay at home?

Hello,

I am the new stay at home mom. I believe there are many of us out there. Moms who've had jobs but have been laid off. Most of us are in the process of looking for jobs, or some have even found it to be so hard to find a job that they've given up and taken on the stay at home mom role. I'm sure there are some dads out there that are doing the same thing. So to stay sane in my new role while still trying to find a job I've decided to blog about it. I'll blog about the job search, ways to save money and/or cut back, now being an much more available parent to my children, and maybe even a better wife :-).