Mario Bros Birthday Party!!!!

Here's just a few photos from the boys' 4th and 2nd birthday party! They are growing so FAST!

Hen House deals this week!

$0.99 Rimmel mascara & more Target deals!

"FREE" stuff @ Walgreen's!

Awesome Walgreen's trip!

$66.44 in Savings! :)

Coupon trip 2

I was armed with all my coupons, hoping to find some good deals, and I think I did.  It wasn't as GREAT as some of the deals I've seen, but it's a start.

Basically I had a lot of Target Printables, as well as some manufacturer coupons.  By having both these coupons I can "stack" them and save even more by using two coupons on one item.  I also was pleasantly surprised once I got to Target and found out certain purchases of deoderant, huggies, papertowels, and some other items, resulted in a $5 gift card!   Which was perfect because I had coupons for Degree deoderant, Huggies diapers, and Viva papertowels!  

My total savings this trip were $35.61, with $10 in gift cards (GC's), and out of pocket cost of $73.96 ( I used a $5 GC I'd previously earned)!

Party was a huge success!

Mr. Potato Head Cake Pops!

Okay, so Monkey is completely obsessed with Mr. Potato Head (and Toy Story really)! In my search for birthday party stuff, I came across these Mr. Potato Head cake pops. I'm not a baker, I literally NEVER bake, but I decided to give it a shot! And I am very proud of how these turned out. I was pretty nervous, but it really was not all that hard.

I used a box cake mix.

Then mixed it with frosting and formed little balls. I let these sit in the fridge over night, then formed them into more "pear" shapes and dipped them in chocolate.

I think the hardest part was quickly inserting the ears, arms, nose and hat before the chocolate started hardening.

Birthday Party!

Just wanted to share a little on my plans for the boys' big birthday bash! It's all planned for the 17th. We wanted to do a party in the week between W's birthday (4/16) and O's (5/1), but that day ended up being Easter, so we decide on the 17th. We are doing the party at a bounce-house/open gym play type place. It's going to be really neat (plus no worrying about clean up before/after the party at home)!!!
We are doing a Toy Story theme- since W is obsessed! I did a test run for the cupcakes- I'd like to make them a little greener for the party, and will be adding sour straws for the little antennas on the alien's heads, and some green candy for ears.
I am also going to try and make these Mr. Potato Head cake pops--- I've got just about everything I need and am going to do a test batch Thursday. Wish me luck! I've never done anything like this- actually haven't baked cupcakes in years either! But, the cupcakes (from a box) were pretty easy, I'm not sure about these...

And I'm going to try and make a slinky dog banner similar to this-

And I got these awesome treat bags from Etsy-So, everything is really coming together! I'm so excited!

Dinner =)

I know I was going to make enchilada casserole, but ended up not feeling like cooking. So, split some soup (2P+) with Dh & W, and made a sandwich thin w/ deli turkey (2 slices), tsp (or less) of mayo, WW cheese, and tomatoes (total 7P+). So, yummy!

Cooking & New Recipes!

I've been really making an effort to try out new recipes & since I'm cooking all our meals I'm looking for quick and easy ideas to start with. Last week I made a turkey enchilada casserole- really yummy (& super easy)! I also did a sort of chili recipe in the crock-pot BUT I forgot to brown the ground beef first :/ I ended up taking it out and cooking it on the stove-top- it actually came out alright. I also did a breakfast scramble- kind of came up with on my own, but I did scrambled eggs, salsa and LF shredded cheese. It was pretty yummy too.

One of my favorite (& easy) dinners is what we had last night- boca burgers and sweet potato fries. We also had black beans, I'll usually do a different veggie with this dinner. It's really scrumptious and all & all (including black beans, cheese, bun, everything) 13 P+ which is high, but for a burger and fries I don't think it's awful. It really satisfies my cravings- burger and fries is probably my FAVORITE food :)



Today I'm trying out this recipe from WW-

Creamy Italian Chicken

Course: main meals PointsPlus™ Value: 8 Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 0 min Cooking Time: 0 min Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

	1 envelope(s) Good Seasons Italian Dressing
	2 cup(s) Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup
	8 oz fat-free cream cheese
	1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
	1 cup(s) cooked brown rice

Instructions

Put chicken breasts in crock pot. Sprinkle with dry Italian dressing mix. Mix cream cheese and soup in separate bowl. Pour over chicken. Cook on low all day ( 8 hours). Serve over rice or noodles. (Add milk if needed to thin sauce out)

It is in the crockpot now! =)

Nook Color LOVE!

I also wanted to mention how much I'm loving my Christmas present- the Nook Color! It's getting me back into reading more---which I love! It makes it easy because I can just carry it in my purse and read whenever I get a chance. I just finished The Hunger Games Series (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) and am starting The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- however I've got a good list of other books I really want to read too!

It's snowing!

Looks like we are going to be getting quite the accumulation tonight. It's coming down pretty heavy and by tomorrow morning should be about 4-7 inches total. THANKFULLY I don't have to work tomorrow. =) Have no where I have to be, so it'll be an inside day with the boys. My throat is still pretty sore, but feeling WAY better than yesterday.

Whoa!

These boys have been keeping me busy! And I'm back on the wagon- with Weight Watchers that is. I got some great deals on SmartOnes, on sale for $1.77 each, plus I had a coupon for $5, and $1 off. So far the New Year has been awesome, well mostly. O is still not consistently sleeping, so it's exhausting at times, but I really wouldn't change a thing! Except I'm going to try and update more! =)

Halloween!!!

W, has been obsessed with Mr. Potato Head lately, so of course that's what he wanted to be for Halloween! We got him this costume! It's super cute, but now I'm kind of thinking O, should be another Toy from Toy Story...so far I've only come up with the little alien costume, but I'm not too excited about that one. Gotta keep hunting. And I'm not sure what Daddy and Mommy are going to be....

My little guys!

MY VBAC BIRTH STORY!

Me after my water broke & before we left for the hospital!

Finally getting a chance to post this!
April 30th at about 9pm, at 38w6d, my water broke. It was really quite a surprise as I thought for sure I'd go past my due date! So we got ready, called the grandparents to get W, and headed to the hospital. We didn't rush, but just kind of took our time. I was surprising pretty relaxed, but VERY excited. Superdad, A, was a little overwhelmed I think!
We arrived at the hospital about 10:30pm and they did some tests to make sure my water had broke. I wasn't really having any strong/consistent contractions at that point. They confirmed my water broke & admitted me. That night not really much happened and they kept talking about maybe starting a low dose of pitocin...which I didn't really want...I wanted to wait. Finally around 8am we decided to start a very low dose of pitocin. Labor was slow...and I labored all day, slowly making progress. I got two doses of stadol, the first dose really helped me, for a little while. I imagined myself just floating in the ocean, relaxing and each wave started getting stronger and stronger, but I tried to relax through it.
Finally at about 3cm I decided to get the epidural...I was having HORRIBLE pain by the time they got the epidural. The nurse checked me after that and I was 7cm! I was getting really excited that my vbac would happen...I think this was around 4pm. At around 7pm my nurse told me that we might have to start thinking c/s! This really upset me! She said once my water is broke 24hrs the risk of infection goes up... I did not want to hear it! I started crying and A tried to calm me down...but at this point I couldn't believe I was going to labor 24 hours and end up with a c/s.
Well, THANKFULLY I got a new nurse at shift change...she'd actually had a vbac herself!!! She said we could keep trying, but started flipping me to open my hips. Finally at a little after 8pm I was having a lot of pain and the nurse checked me and I was 10cm!!!! I had never been so happy in my life! She said we could start pushing...but it was probably going to be a lot of pushing. OH MAN! She wasn't kidding.
I pushed for almost 2 hours & it was HARD WORK! No joking I was completely exhausted...thought I couldn't do it...but at 10:04pm Owen Weston was born!!! It was amazing. Even though my epidural had run out and I felt EVERYTHING...it all disappeared when he was placed on my chest! His cord was wrapped around his neck, and I tore a little, but all in all it was perfect! My recovery has been SO much easier. I'm so happy I got my vbac!

He's here!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to come & post. But, O was born May 1st @ 10:04pm. He was 8lbs 1oz, and 21 1/1 in. I'm so in LOVE. I'll be going back to work in just a week and a half, so that will probably be when I will come back and post the entire labor and delivery story. But, I did get my VBAC!!! :)

Starting birth plan

Birth Plan Worksheet

ATTENDANTS AND AMENITIES

I'd also like:

To dim the lights

LABOR

I'd like the option of returning home if I'm not in active labor.

Once I'm admitted, I'd like:
My partner to be allowed to stay with me at all times
Only my practitioner, nurse, and guests present (i.e., no residents, medical students, or other hospital personnel)
To wear my contact lenses, as long as I don't need a c-section
To eat if I wish to
To stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids instead of having an IV
To walk and move around as I choose

As long as the baby and I are doing fine, I'd like:
To have intermittent rather than continuous electronic fetal monitoring
To be allowed to progress free of stringent time limits

If they're available, I'd like to try:
A birthing stool
A birthing pool/tub


When it's time to push, I'd like to:
Do so instinctively

I'd like to try the following positions for pushing (and birth):

Whatever feels right at the time

As long as my baby and I are doing fine, I'd like the pushing stage to be allowed to progress free of stringent time limits


PAIN RELIEF

I'd like to try the following pain-management techniques:
Breathing techniques/distraction
Massage
Medication
Please don't offer me pain medication. I'll request it if I need it.


VAGINAL BIRTH

I'd like:
The room to be as quiet as possible
To risk a tear rather than have an episiotomy

After birth, I'd like:
To hold my baby right away, putting off any procedures that aren't urgent
To breastfeed as soon as possible
My partner to cut the umbilical cord

C-SECTION

If I have a c-section, I'd like:
My partner present at all times during the operation
The baby given to my partner as soon as he's dried (as long as he's in good health)
To breastfeed my baby in the recovery room


POSTPARTUM

After delivery, I'd like:
All newborn procedures to take place in my presence
My partner to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there
To stay in a private room
To have a cot provided for my partner

I plan to:
Breastfeed exclusively

The following can be offered to my baby:

Please don't offer anything to my baby at any point

I'd like my baby fed:
On demand

I'd like:
24-hour rooming-in with my baby

If my baby's a boy:
I'd like him circumcised at the hospital.

I'd like my other child(ren) brought in to see me and meet the new baby as soon as possible after the birth.

Labor Prediciton...

Just about the time you think you can't handle hearing one more "when is that baby going to pop?", your baby will decide to make it's appearance. We predict your baby will be born 3-7 days before its due date. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 8.2 pounds and that your labor will be about 11 hours long.

I'd definitely be happy with 3-7 days before my due date!!!