The Internet Viral All Moms Should See!

OK, most of you have probably already seen this by now. I think I have received it from at least three people. If you haven't, enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anSpBUxsgAU

Glorious Weather, and the Peanut Loves Hiking Too!

We had a wonderful trip to the mountains and were pleased to discover that our purchase of a nice baby carrier didn't go to waste. Katelynn really loved to hike, even 4+ hours at a time.

More unexpected purchases

So, every time I think we are finally done with baby gear purchases for awhile, more purchases somehow present themselves...many times thanks to the strange quirks of Miss Turkey herself.

Examples:
- This morning I let her cry in her crib for 10 minutes. When I went to get her, her mouth was completely COVERED in black flakes from chewing up the crib rail. Aaagh! So, off to Babies R' Us to purchase a soft teething rail that sticks to the crib with some adhesive stuff.

- She recently started tearing her bibs off. Can't get her to stop. So I had to invest in several of the over-the-head bibs that she can't get off. Annoying since I already had tons of the velcro bibs.

Fellow parents, what random unexpected purchases have you made?

More info on Grocery Game

OK, some of you are asking for more info on the grocery game. Here are my findings thus far from the past few weeks:

- I spend about 1 hour per week cutting/filing coupons and printing the lists off with the things I want to buy. Up front I spent more time than that because I was reading the internet a lot to make sure I was doing everything right. There are message boards that are helpful and fun to read. That is really not necessary anymore unless I just want to read for fun.

- I decided to subscribe to one grocery store (Kroger, my regular store) and CVS. I don't think it is worth doing more than one grocery store. I tried it for a couple weeks; too much shopping and too exhausting trying to learn more than one store, especially with an impatient baby staring at me the whole time. I have been saving about 50% off shelf at Kroger - not bad!

- I keep my coupons in a binder. I got CD inserts for a 3 ring binder. I file by letter of the alphabet. I learned this the hard way. At first I was doing categories and was making myself crazy trying to decide how to file things. My friend Kelly was just doing alphabetical filing by brand name. I switched to her method and it is so much better.

OK hope that helps. If anyone has more questions let me know!

My first two weeks on the GROCERY GAME!

OK, saving money has truly never been so fun. I've been doing well at the grocery store - I have definitely cut our grocery bill at least 30%. But CVS is the most fun of all. It is crazy!
My first two weeks at CVS:
First week - Got a $30 gift card for transferring a prescription. Shopped the sales using "the list" from the website and my coupons. Left with a huge bag of goodies - toothpastes, three 12 packs of cokes, deodorants, heartburn medicine, and didn't spend a dime of my own money. Plus $$ left over for next time.
Second week - Got 4 dishwashing liquids, 3 deodorants, and 4 toothpastes. Spent $1.15 out of pocket but have over $20 in store credit for next week.

RECAP - Spent $1.15 so far. Have several bags full of health and beauty items. Have $20 in store credits. All this for about an hour a week of my time. Again, people: www.thegrocerygame.com !!!

More Baby Gear

Every time we think the purchasing of baby gear is over, Katelynn enters a new phase of life that demands yet more expensive gear. The latest: baby gates. We decided we need two. One to keep her penned in the living room/kitchen area, and another for the top of the stairs so that she doesn't gravely injure herself, since the stairs are the place she immediately bolts for when you set her down in her bedroom. After much research, the total for two measly gates: nearly 200 big ones.

Well, it's cheaper than college. Only 17 years till that!

Ever Feel Like This?