Tripp is TWO!

I can hardly believe what I just wrote… my baby boy is TWO!  He truly isn’t a baby anymore, can he can hardly be described as a toddler… Baby Center considers him a preschooler – how can that be?  Anyway, regardless of what title you give the little man, here are the things he’s up to these days :-)

*  At his 2-year-old appointment Friday, we learned that Tripp weighs 33 pounds and is 35.75 inches tall (95% for both height and weight) – YES, he is a big boy… but not nearly as chubby as he was 6 months ago.  Tripp has stretched out quite a bit and can now be described as, “solid.”

*  According to the 4 page developmental questionnaire I filled out at the pediatrician… Tripp is right on track.  This is just another way he is very different from his big sister, who hardly talked until the summer after she turned two.  Tripp has been much quicker to talk to us and uses short sentences more and more these days.  He’s also doing well with his motor skills; he can feed himself with a spoon or fork, string beads, stack blocks, color/write (he holds his crayon the right way), kick a ball, etc.  He’s doing great, and we are very proud of our little boy :-)

*  Tripp is very loving – he is an incredibly affectionate child  who will kiss and hug you anytime you ask (actually he requests it just as often).  Hug is a word we hear quite often from Tripp – and he will specify who he wants to hug as well (Daddy Hug, Nana hug, Papa hug, etc.)  His latest request (which just started this week) is to rock.  As I was putting him down for a nap this week, he ran over to the glider in the nursery and said, “I want rock.”  Well… what momma can refuse that request?  Not this one I assure you – and I will rock him any time he asks because these days will soon be gone!

*  He’s all boy, all the time :-)  This child is a bruiser!!! Tripp loves to play rough, and he can often be found trying to tackle his big sister (and when he has her down… she can’t get up!)  He’s into EVERYTHING and always has a new bump or bruise to show for his adventures. He is definitely a tough guy though – if I hear him crying, I come running because it doesn’t happen that often (unless he hasn’t gotten his way… but that’s a whole different story :-).

Basically, we are completely in love with our little boy!  I cannot imagine the past 2 years without him.  He completely changed our little family and we have all been the better for it.  I am as thankful for his sweet, loving spirit as I am for that stubborn streak – I know God has big plans for this little boy’s life, and I look forward to watching it all unfold.

If you were a fly…

If you were a fly on the walls of our house, here are some things you would probably hear… quite often!

Be Nice…  Are you being disobedient?…  Clean up your toys…  Don’t hit your sister…  Go put your shoes by the door…  Where is your hair bow?…  Did you wipe? flush? wash your hands? (sorry folks… it’s just a reality)…  Share!…  Your shoes are on the wrong feet…  Go talk to your daddy…  Do you need to go potty?…  Who’s the boss? (I’m not making this up)…  What do you say? (please)…  Say you’re sorry…  We don’t hit!…  Don’t leave your cup on the floor…  Use your inside voice (often followed by), That’s too loud!….  And of course – Because I said so, and I’m the Mommy

Sometimes my life is incredibly repetitious, and it’s funny to think about the “mom-isms” that I never thought I’d say… yet I do!  The challenge is to speak these words of correction with love and not out of frustration (because I’ve already said it 10 times and it’s only 9:30am).  Life with 2 kids under 4 (soon to be 3!!!) – there’s NEVER a dull moment!

Here’s to Improvement!

I did a horrible job blogging last year – that’s it… just horrible.  Well – it’s a NEW year and though I don’t promise daily updates on my little family, I am hopeful that once a week there will be some documentation of what is going on in our lives.  Notice I said hopeful…

So every time January rolls around I start thinking about goals for the year.  Last year I made a list http://betterthanablackberry.com/?p=389, and I did about half as well as I’d hoped.  Not all was accomplished – I only ran 250 miles because in August, I discovered I was expecting our 3rd child.  Not a bad thing – but the running came to an end… to be continued in May of this year :-).  I did read 5 books – but 4 were fiction…. Probably should work on that ;-).  Overall I don’t think I did very well with 2011’s goals – but that just means there is plenty of room for improvement!  So that’s what 2012 will be: A year for improvement!

Here are some of the goals I have for the year – and even though I know I won’t accomplish them all, I plan to end 2012 better than I started… that would be an improvement!

1) Keep a cleaner house.

Here’s the plan – I want to go to bed with a clean kitchen/dining room.  That way, when I get up in the morning I might have to unload the dishwasher, but I won’t be greeted by a sink full of last night’s dishes and start my day in a hole.  I also plan to stay home at least one day a week – a day dedicated to chores and rest.  We tend to run out a lot because Abby Ruth goes to preschool 5 days a week – but if I make myself just return home after dropping her off, the house would be more orderly AND I would spend less money (pretty sure Tom will be excited about that too)!

2) More Praise Baby – less Pixar.

Basically less TV…  In the past few months I feel like our TV has gotten a workout!  Now most of what the kids watch it either Christian or educational, and therefore not “bad” for them.  But they could be reading, doing puzzles, or just using their imaginations!  In the past week (since 2012 began), I have seriously cut the videos down in our house and I’ve watched the kids really enjoy their toys and pretend a lot more.  One day we did have Praise Baby on for a couple of hours – but it was for the music and not really to watch.  What a blessing to hear Abby Ruth join in with many of the songs – a joyful noise for sure.  So there’s the improvement I’m looking for this year – TV that’s uplifting and meaningful, not just entertaining.  I’m not saying we won’t be watching Cars or Finding Nemo anymore… we will probably watch Cars today!  The goal is moderation – especially with a new baby coming.  I know how easy it is to fall into the routine of turning on the television to entertain… so I’m putting effort into a NEW routine before Anna Claire’s arrival – that way it will be easier to maintain.

3) 3-5 COMPLETED sewing projects each month

2011 was the beginning of a new hobby for me – sewing!  I’ve loved making shorts & pants for Abby Ruth (without boutique prices)… but I’m terrible at getting projects started and then following through to the end!  So I’m going to attempt to get more projects completed each month.  For January, the goal is to finish the curtains and pillow cases for the kid’s room.  Pictures coming soon!

4) Don’t fall behind…

This could sum up all of my goals really… it’s my biggest struggle.  I like to be organized, but I let myself get behind and before I know it I have a huge mess.  Right now I have at least 3 areas in the house with piles of paperwork/coupons/magazines… that just need TIME.  I would like to get these things cleaned up and then stick with it and not get into this mess again.  One of the biggest areas that gets out of control is my coupons.  Let’s just say you can’t save much with coupons if you never take them out of the paper and file them…  I know I can get caught up in this area and I KNOW I can stay caught up – this is my biggest goal for 2012!

So there it is – my New Year’s resolutions for 2012!  There are many others floating through my head, but I think this is a good start.  I plan to post these in my kitchen so I can’t just “forget” about them halfway through the year :-).

April 27th

It’s odd to look back at this week now – time has removed the shock and chaos of it all… but I thought it was worth documenting from the Nelson’s view.

April 27th we woke up without power – there had been a nasty storm during the night and our power went out around 4am.  I promptly checked Alabama Power’s website and was assured it would be back by 10am… so off to the gym we went to enjoy the air conditioning.  While on the treadmill, I watched the local news and became increasingly concerned that the weather was about to get really bad.  I called Tom (who told me our power was still out) and made plans to run by Publix for some lunch meat and head home for the day – just in case…

As the situation progressed that afternoon, we made plans to spend the evening in the basement and put the kids to bed in the storage room (our safest spot in the house).  The internet wouldn’t work (even on our phones) and we had family members texting us to let us know where the tornadoes had been spotted.  It was a stressful evening for us, but not for the kids :-).  They were enjoying “camping” in the basement and watching Finding Nemo after bedtime – what a treat!  It’s good they didn’t know the gravity of the situation, they just knew they were safe with Mommy & Daddy – what a blessing!

Well, now everyone knows that the 27th was filled with the worst set of tornadoes Alabama has ever seen.  Homes, schools, and towns were destroyed – and 238 people were left dead.  We didn’t have any damage at our house – the worst we experienced was being without power for 4 days… annoying, but I had to keep reminding myself that we were SAFE.  It was a very emotional week for everyone – and many are still trying to pick up the pieces left behind.  For me, it was a reminder of how blessed I am to have Abby Ruth & Tripp.  I love them more than words can say and my heart goes out to the mothers who lost their babies in this storm – I cannot imagine greater heartache.  As we continue to see the devestation I am reminded to count my blessings and be thankful for every moment I have with my family – life is a gift… enjoy eve

The Drug Store Game – March

***I did not finish this post, and I’ve given up on April’s list.  We’ve had too much going on and I just didn’t have time to take pictures of every deal I got.  I haven’t stopped playing the game – just taking a break from reporting the results :-)

Another fantastic month for shopping at drug stores!  It is such a misconception that they only provide prescriptions and overpriced merchandise.  Follow the sales, combine with coupons, and get some GREAT deals!  Some totally free items this month – Gain dish soap, Motrin PM, toothpaste, Nivea lip gloss, nail polish, Clean & Clear face soap, Candy/Gum and Thermacare heat wraps!

Here are the pictures of my “winnings” this month :-).  Sometimes I throw a candy bar in the mix to bring my subtotal up so I don’t have as much OOP spending… sounds strange to add merchandise in order to save money, but sometimes that is exactly how it works out.

OOP = Out of Pocket, ECB = Extra Care Bucks (CVS) and +UP = +UP Rewards (Rite Aid)

OOP = $3.75     ECB = $6.58     Rebate submitted = $5

OOP = $1.09     +UP = $3

OOP = $0.67     ECB = $3

OOP = $0.23

OOP = $2.47     +UPs = $4.88     Rebates = $6

OOP = $1.11     ECB = $8

OOP = $0.71

OOP = $1.07     +UPs = $2

OOP = $5.60     +UP = $26     Rebates = $2

OOP = $12.66     ECB = $10

OOP = $2.47     +UP = $4

What a fantastic month for drug store deals!  My out of pocket was under $60 which makes me happy, and I have more than $20 in Rite Aid/CVS money for April.  I love it when I can look over the month’s purchases and honestly say I’d be happy if I’d spent $60 outright on those items (but I’m even happier that my net is closer to $20 :-).

I have established a few new “rules” for myself… we are MORE than stocked up on some items, therefore I refuse to “buy” them unless they are free!  Included in this list are: toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, baby wash & shampoo, deodorant, and body wash.  So if you see those in my future purchases – know that they were free!

***I’m not pregnant – this was just a great deal on tests and they do come in handy ;-)

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Take 5!

One of my biggest struggles is managing my time wisely – especially lately!  I seem to get lost in the errands, coupons, chores & kids- before I know it the week is gone and I have a pile of laundry to fold and a house needing serious attention.  This is super frustrating because I feel like I’m constantly cleaning and not actually getting anywhere!

I think people assume I’m very organized – but I am more of a “I’ll get to that tomorrow” kid of girl :-/.  I can’t get much of anything done without a list because I get distracted and run around doing a little of everything and a lot of…. nothing.  So over the years I’ve had MANY lists – lists that I never finish, that wear me out, and overall are a discouragement to my soul.  I know that sounds dramatic, but if you think about it… never feeling finished is a hard place to be.

So back to the title of this post – “take 5″ – it’s my new strategy!  I have a new list with only 5 items per day (and only 5 total for the weekend).  Every day I plan to do a little laundry and spend about 30 minutes in kitchen/dining room – then I have 3 other things left to do and I’m DONE!  I will admit this will not keep our house in “pristine” condition… but it will help me stay sane, and the house will be clean enough (I hope).

Anyone care to see what’s on this list?  Here it is:

Monday –   Laundry, Kitchen/Dining, Vacuum Downstairs, Change Sheets, Bathrooms

Tuesday –   Laundry, Kitchen/Dining, Vacuum Upstairs, Gym, Organize/Sew

Wednesday –   Laundry, Kitchen/Dining, Diaper Genies & Trash, Gym, Errands

Thursday –   Laundry, Kitchen/Dining, Vacuum Downstairs, Gym, Organize/Sew

Friday –   Laundry, Kitchen/Dining, Iron, Sweep/Mop, Bathrooms

Weekend –   Laundry, Kitchen/Dining, Dust, Organize Coupons, Errands

I’m going to give this a try for the next month – we’ll see how it goes!

Testing, testing… one, two, THREE!

Abby Ruth has always been pretty compliant.  In fact, we are often told that we have, “the sweetest children.”  And although I don’t disagree, I will say that my sweet little girl is starting to test us… just a little :-)

Lately I have heard, “No!” and “Why?” quite a lot… and although I hate this answer, I find myself saying, “Because I said so!”  It is definitely frustrating to be constantly questioned by someone who is barely 3 feet tall – but I’m not complaining… or if I am, I know that I shouldn’t!  My little girl is growing up and trying to figure out if the boundaries will move when she pushes on them.  We know it’s healthy and often remind ourselves of this by saying, “Abby Ruth, are you acting like a 2 year old?”  It’s just a subtle reminder that she is only 2 and acting her age.

A couple things I’ve learned as we approach Abby’s 3rd birthday:

1) Pick your battles because you have to win the ones you take on – I’ve truly learned this the hard way!  There have been many days when I ask, “Why did I start this?” because I really don’t want to finish it…  But giving in would only teach Abby Ruth that is she pushes hard enough, Mommy will give in.  So I’m learning to distinguish between immaturity and defiance – and pick the battles worth fighting :-)

2) Structure!  It always helps for Abby Ruth to know what to expect.  Tom calls it “running a tight ship” but no matter what you call it, having a plan makes life easier.

3) Consistency – This is also very difficult for me!  More often than I’d like to admit, I want to overlook things and just move on with the day.  Unfortunately my children seem to be taking notes and nothing goes unnoticed!  Consistency in discipline allows us to discipline less often – and that is better for everyone :-)

In spite of this “testing” phase, I continue to enjoy this age and all that comes with it.  The things Abby says and understands are so cute.  She is learning at an extraordinary speed right now – it’s truly amazing!  I especially love the songs she sings and books she “reads” to us.  So right now, I’m just doing my best to pass these “tests” with a loving and patient spirit toward the little girl God blessed me with – almost 3 years ago :-)

**I have to say this post has taken me WEEKS to write!  I kept starting to vent about my daughter’s defiance and then she would have a sweet streak and I would wonder what I was complaining about.  So here’s what I decided – my little girl is just like all 2-3 year olds… she has her moments of testing the limits and then she returns to “normal.”  The hardest part is remembering that she is just a little girl – and it’s all part of growing up :-)

The Drug Store Game – February

This month was AWESOME – espescially at Rite Aid.  I took pictures so you could see the deals instead of just reading about them :-)

KEY – OOP = Out of Pocket, +UP = money for Rite Aid, ECB = money for CVS

OOP – $3.89     +UPs received – $42     Rebates submitted – $7.99

OOP – $11.45     +UPs received – $6     Rebates submitted – $7.99

OOP – $4.50      +UPs received – $4

OOP – $8.21      +UPs received – $6     Rebates submitted – $20.98

OOP – $9.78     +UPs received – $4     Rebates submitted – $14.99

OOP – $11.68     +UPs received – $18

OOP – $1.05     +UPs received – $4     Rebates submitted – $4

OOP – $3.05     +UPs received – $20.50

OOP – $5.33     ECBs received – $4.79

OOP – $0.90     ECBs received – $1.74

OOP – $4.01     +UPs received – $12

OOP – $1.87     +UPs received – $6

OOP – $2.55     +UPs received – $12

OOP – $1.23     +UPs received – $4

Totals:

OOP – $69.50     Remaining +UPs – $32     Remaining ECBs – $5.53     Rebates submitted – $54.95

This was a great month for stocking up on some things we use all the time.  I got great deals on peanut butter, gatorade, desitin, deodorant, and cold/flu meds!  We also won’t be needing baby shampoo or baby wash any time soon!  The best part about the cold medicine (in my opinion) is that it’s homeopathic and the expiration date isn’t until 2015!

At first I was disappointed that I had spent so much out of pocket… though I knew I had gotten good deals, Nearly $70!  However, check out my rebates – it almost covers my total out of pocket!  The best part is that the rebate comes as a regular check – it doesn’t have to be spent at Rite Aid or CVS like the +UPs and ECBs do!

I will try (once again) to stay under $50 next month.  I need to do better with the Extra Bucks and +UP Rewards that I have – using them as much as possible so I only have to pay tax out of pocket.  Stay tuned to see how next month turns out :-)

Precious Sleep

I just want to take a moment to PRAISE GOD for giving me such great sleepers!  If your kids aren’t good sleepers, I truly am sorry – I know this is a gift and I take it for granted far too often!

Tripp is finally into a sleep pattern I LOVE (so it will probably change soon – right?). He goes to bed at 7pm and I usually get him out of bed at 7am – he might not be sleeping this whole time, but he is happy to be alone in his crib.

He takes a 1-hour morning nap and a 2-hour afternoon nap… AMAZING! The icing on the cake is that Abby Ruth takes a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon which COINCIDES with her brother!

AHHHH precious naptime, how thankful I am for you! This post is not meant to brag – instead it is to remind myself that I am truly blessed with children who SLEEP!

* I wrote this post about a week ago and now that I am finally publishing it, Tripp’s naptimes HAVE changed.  I’m still praising God though – he transitioned to an afternoon nap quite nicely and at this moment I have TWO sleeping kiddos!  Thank You Jesus!

Seriously?

Just as a warning – this blog post is a little gross… stop reading now if you have a weak stomach :-)

So – I thought we were done with the stomach bug… I was wrong!  On Saturday, we went out to our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner.  We had all been feeling better for 2 days and Tom didn’t want me to have to cook OR clean up… so instead of grabbing take-out, we headed into the restaurant to eat.  This seemed like a good idea, and it started out fine… until our food arrived and Abby Ruth started throwing up – A LOT!

I have never had an experience quite like that before, and I hope to never repeat it… but with kids – you just never know.  We survived (Tom took the brunt of the nastiness because he was sitting next to Abby), got home and bathed Abby Ruth… and she went to sleep without any further “incidents.”  Tom and I then crashed on the couch with our stomachs sour and waited for the worst – thankfully it hasn’t hit us again!

On Sunday we stayed home from church (obviously!) and hoped the kids would continue to recover from this nasty bug!  Well – by 9:30 I had changed 2 NASTY diapers on Tripp… guess he wasn’t over it either.  The two memorable quotes from Sunday were, “What is all over the floor?” and “Why is my arm wet?”  Seriously… Tripp was a nasty mess all day and I am TIRED of cleaning up after this stuff!

Now it’s Monday morning and we are relaxing at home – hoping & praying we have seen the last of this virus for a while!