James' Promotion

James received a very special letter today (which is also his first birthday)!

5 Ways to Save Money at Target

I love Target. I always have, and always will. A good friend of mine and I refer to it as The Happiest Place on Earth. Buuuut...their prices have always been a little higher than Wal-Mart. That's changing, though.

They price match, and their prices have lowered over the years. Most Targets have at least a small grocery section, which is very convenient when I need a few things and don't want to drive around to a few different stores. Also, there's a Target store 5 minutes from my house....which is dangerous. :)

Over the past few months, I've discovered a few ways to save money at Target. My past two shopping trips were $112 and $113 and I bought them down to $68 and $74, respectively, using these techniques.

1. Cartwheel-This app by Target is free and easy to use. There are usually a few hundred offers on the app at any given time on items throughout the store. The discount is usually 5-10%, but I've saved as much as 50%. You select the offers you want to use, then have the cashier scan the barcode in the app. Wa-la! You start out with 10 spots (so you can use 10 different offers), but the more you use it, the more spots you get. I have 20 right now after using it for about 5 months. I've saved $30 since I started using it. It all adds up! They almost always have deals on their generic products (up&up and Market Pantry). They added a new feature in the app where you can scan an item to see if there are any Cartwheel deals for it-this saves a lot of time so you don't have to type in every item! I will typically scan an item before I put it in my cart to make sure I don't miss out on any savings.

2. Manufacturer Coupons-Target accepts one manufacturer coupon per item. You can find manufacturer coupons in the newspaper, in fliers, and on websites like coupons.com, where you print them from your home printer (you do have to take ink and paper cost into account using this method). Manufacturer coupons say "Manufacturer Coupon" on the coupon itself, usually next to the expiration date.

3. Target Coupons-Target has coupons in a few different places including mailers, Sunday ads, Catalinas (the coupons that print from the machine while your receipt is printing), and at coupons.target.com. The coupons say "Target Coupon" or "Target Web Coupon" on them. You can also use Target Mobile Coupons, which are texted to you (http://m.target.com/sms/coupon-alrts/form). Target Mobile Coupons are stored in the Target app (this is a separate app from Cartwheel-I wish they'd combine them, but it's worth the time and money to download both apps). Just show the cashier the barcode and wa-la! You can't use a Target Mobile Coupon and a paper Target coupon on the same item, but I haven't run into this issue yet. Some of the mobile coupons are awesome, like $1 off a purchase of $1 or more on a fruit or vegetable purchase. I got carrots for $0.19! They had a coupon in the paper a couple of weeks ago for $15 off your up&up purchase of $40 or more. There are loads of up&up products that I'd buy anyway (like diapers, wipes, baby food, paper goods, toilet paper, etc.) so why not save extra money? If you don't get a Sunday paper you can have the in-ad coupons texted to you, and they will be a mobile coupon.

You can combine one manufacturer coupon, one Target coupon, and one cartwheel coupon per item. I bought three boxes of General Mills cereal for less than $0.50 a piece using this technique!

4. Red Card-You can get Target's credit card to save 5%, or get a Target Red Card Debit Card, which is linked to your checking account, and also save 5%. The only downside to the debit card is that it can take a few days to come out of your checking account. It's 5% off everything in the store. EVERYTHING!

5. Sales-Last but not least...SALES! Or clearance. That works too. You can find Target's ad online a day or two before it comes out in the paper.

To maximize your savings at Target, you have to plan. And this takes time, which I know not everyone has. I usually plan my shopping trip after James goes to bed when I have an hour or two of peace and quiet before it's my bedtime. There are websites like Totally Target and The Krazy Coupon Lady who do "coupon matchups," which is a great time saver. The match up coupons, sales, and Cartwheel deals for you so you know what the best deals are.

Happy shopping!

9 months + DIY No-Sew Crib Rail Cover

Baby James is now 9 months (NINE!). I'm not sure where the time has gone. He's an awesome little man.

His 9 month appointment went well! He's 28.5" tall and weighs 20 pounds 11.4 ounces. I can't believe I'm starting to plan his FIRST birthday party already! He now has 4 teeth (well, sort of-the top two have broken through but aren't coming down very quickly), eats almost anything you put in front of him (he loves sweets!), and has figured out (in order) how to crawl backwards, crawl forwards, push his walker, and pull himself up on anything and everything (couches, cribs, the dog, etc.). He's easily entertained and loves to laugh! No one makes him laugh more than his daddy. :)

Christmas was loads of fun (my mom flew up for a couple of weeks), and we went to visit Alissa in NOVA right afterwards. James loved DC! On Christmas Eve we went over to Katie's parent's house and had a blast!!

Mark and James are best buds.

Christmas morning! (Sirius photo bomb.)

My mom, James, Matt, and I went and watched the Broncos game. :)

Alissa, James, and I in front of the Capitol.

We've also gone to the aquarium a couple of times, visited Nonnie and Grandpa (and Brian and Katie), and spent time with his friends, twins Emmalin and Keagan, who are a month and a half older than him. They're showing him the ropes. Every time we visit them, James learns a new trick! (I know that's a horrible way to describe it. But that's pretty much what it is, right?)

Keagan and James both NEEDED the Bumbo seat. NEEEEEEEEDED. Emmalin knows how cute she is-just look at that smile!

James has also, like any other 9 month old, putting EVERYTHING in his mouth. Every. Thing. He figured out that he can pull himself up on his crib and chew on it, leaving little flecks of varnish on his face. Pretty sure that's not healthy. Apparently there's actually a market for crib rail covers/guards, but most of them didn't good reviews and/or are pretty pricey. James and I scoured Pinterest and found a great tutorial from from Jane Marie Blog on how to make your own no-sew version using fleece. I LOVE sewing (and got a wonderful sewing machine as a gift from my Navy moms group!), but don't have much time for it anymore now that Jimmy Jams is much more mobile and curious. So, here goes: my first blog tutorial! (Disclaimer: These photos suck. I know. But the photography in this family is my husband, and he's on the night shift right now. So my crappy iPhone photos taken in poor lighting will have to suffice.)

DIY No-Sew Fleece Crib Rail Cover

Materials needed:

Fabric Scissors

Measuring tape, yardstick, or ruler

1.5 ish yards of fleece (it's on sale right now at Hancock for $3.99 a yard-great deal! How much you need will depend on the size and shape of your crib.)

Batting-optional (I used Sew Perfect Extra Loft Batting)

Ribbon or string-optional (for keeping batting in place)

First, the length of your crib. Mine was 51." I laid the fabric over the top of the rail to see how far I wanted it to hang down, and figured how that it needed to be 24" wide, so I cut out a piece of felt that was 51"x24". The edges were 27"x15.5." Because this is no-sew, you don't need to account for a seam allowance (yay!). Fleece is incredibly forgiving, so don't worry about having a perfectly straight line. 

Cutting the 51"x24" section

The two 27"x15.5" sections

You don't have to use batting. I chose to add in a few layers of it because I have a heavy chewer. I cut the batting into sections as long as the length of the crib it would be protecting, and made it three layers thick (once compressed, it's not very lofty). I then used ribbon to keep it in place. Without the ribbon, it was sliding all over the place. It doesn't matter what color of type of ribbon or string you use for this, as it will not show-just make sure to cut the ribbon strings short. (I bought about a million yards of this hot pink ribbon for wedding invites without realizing just how hot it was. Oops.) 

Next, lay the fleece over the batting (or directly over the rail if you are not using batting). 

Now, there are a couple of ways to go about this next step. In some tutorials, people cut the strips while it's hanging over the rail. I found this to be very awkward, so I cut one strip to see how long the strip needed to be, then folded the fabric in half lengthwise and continued cutting the strips. My strips ended up being about 1.5-2". I probably should've measured them, but you really can't tell that they aren't all the same length. 

Fabric folded lenghwise with strips cut

Next step: place the fabric over the batting and start tying!

I did a double knot because...well, my kid is smarter than he looks. :)

Continue tying knots, making sure to line up the strips. I had more strips than slats in the crib, so I tied some of them off to one side or the other. It doesn't really matter. 

Repeat for the side rails.

This gives you a better idea of how I cut the fleece

Annnnd...wa-la! Crib rail covers!

Big Bird looks pathetic, don't you think?

Hey mom! I love my new fuzzy crib rail covers! Also, I probably just pooped.

From start to finish, this project took about an hour. It would've taken less time if James didn't have to be in the same room as me while I was working on it, but you know. That's how it goes. :) Total cost was just under $14, and I got to pick the fabric! (I originally went to the fabric store for green fleece, but then saw a zoo-themed fleece and thought that was cute, as that is the theme of James' room. Then I saw this fleece-dinosaurs AND zoo animals?!?! Had to have it.)

Happy Tuesday!

Seven Months Old + No More Pumping + CHRISTMAS!

Has it really been two months since I updated our blog?!?! Holy cow! Since then, we've had so many fun adventures and lots of updates to share. I don't even know where to begin! Try to stay with me as I try to organize my thoughts. :)

In late October, we went to visit my parents and brother in Orlando. Oh boy, what a trip that was! We had so many fun adventures-Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and lots of time with family and friends! James was perfect on the airplane. Do we have a future pilot on our hands? Good thing both of his parents like flying. I see many more flights in his future.

On the way to FL, we took turns holding James. On the way back, the flight wasn't full so we put his carseat in our row...much much easier-and we didn't have to pay for a seat.

James and I by the seals and sea lions at Sea World. 

Having fun at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (i.e. the most amazing place on earth).

My family had our Christmas card pictures taken at this exact spot in Sea World a few times, so it was awesome to carry on that tradition with my happy little family!

We've also visited Nonnie and Grandpa's house a few times:

Grandpa and Brian both have a shirt that matches this little fleece jacket-so cute!

Our little man turned 6 months old on November 7:

Playing in the leaves at Colonial Williamsburg (we had to much fun with Brian and Katie!).

We've had some cuddle time.

And daddy has had some play time!

At his 6 month appointment in mid November, he weighed 18 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 27 inches long. I think. 27ish inches. Anyway, he was in the 50-60th percentiles for his weight, length (height?), and head circumference. All nice and healthy! Except for that cold he had. And the subsequent two colds he's has since then...but you know, minus that, he's healthy! I don't think he has his dad's crazy strong immune system. Dang. He seems to catch everything I catch.

James also had his first Thanksgiving on November 28. And, because we....well, because we have the sense of humor that's a bit off kilter, we dressed him up in a chicken suit (close enough to a turkey, right? it's poultry!) and put him on a platter. With potatoes. I promise he wasn't traumatized.

Needs a little bit more thyme. (HA! See what I did there?!)

See? I told you. He was happy. Confused, but happy. Which will probably sum up the next 18 years of his life. Confused as to why he got the "weird" parents. Sorry, kid. You're stuck.

On December 7, James turned 7 months old. WHAT?!?!?! I know. It's impossible, right? Ugh. He needs to stop growing up! He can still potty train himself though. That'd be fantastic.

Christmas pajamas! (Which, by the way, are size 18 months.)

He loves sitting up, rolling around, "walking" while we hold his hands, standing/leaning against things, and eating. He. LOVES. Eating. Probably his favorite thing to do. His bottom two teeth broke through the gum and are slowly working their way up. They're like little razor blades, so we don't let him chew on our fingers anymore. I think that's reasonable, but he doesn't. He loves his purees. He isn't a big fan of rice cereal, so we give him oatmeal and he likes that...but most of all when it's mixed in with fruits and veggies. We also give him rice puffs (like cheerios, but made of rice instead of oats) and he loves those. So does Sirius. I think about 10% of the puffs actually end up in his mouth, of which 10% end up in his belly. The rest...well, Sirius isn't complaining.

We got his first picture with Santa taken and he did great! He didn't cry. He didn't smile, but he didn't cry. I'd call that a success. A friend mentioned that Bass Pro Shops had a Christmas wonderland setup with a Santa, so I'm glad we checked that out! It was much less stressful to go there on a Monday night than a mall on a Saturday.

Note to self: next year, dress him in another color besides red.

We went to Busch Gardens Christmas Town with Brian and Katie this past weekend and had a blast! Lots of lights, a train ride, and hot chocolate. Mmmmmm! James "won" this penguin "all by himself" by picking up a plastic penguin out of a "river." Mad skillz. (I love how happy I look in this picture, and he's like, mom, I'm cold, and you need to stop taking pictures of me.)

We transitioned him into his crib, and he does great most nights. We are still swaddling him but leave one or both arms out. For some reason, he still likes his torso to be swaddled. This doesn't keep him from pretending he's a Cirque Du Soleil performer. He ends up in some very odd positions in the crib, which he usually can't get himself out of. If we put him in the rock n play to sleep, he can wiggle his way out of that. Whenever I get anxious about the fact that he's 7 months old and *still* likes to be swaddled, I remind myself that he won't be going to college in a swaddle.

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Michele's circus-themed baby shower was this past Saturday and it was a blast!! I wish I had thought to get my picture taken with the mom-to-be, but she was as lovely as ever. Can't wait to meet their little man! James and I spent the weekend at Nonnie and Grandpa's house and had lots of fun decorating, baking, and cooking with Aunt Kitty. Here's a few of my favorite pictures (you can see more that Katie posted on Pinterest  at http://www.pinterest.com/kmobri/circus-baby-shower/)

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On a more serious/emotional note, I've decided to stop exclusively pumping. As most of you know, I've been pumping since James was about a week old, and exclusively pumping since he was 6-8 weeks old (I don't remember the exact dates). We started pumping because we had latching issues and his reflux was better when drinking out of a bottle. For 4 months, I pumped 6-8 times a day. That's 4 hours a day. Of a pump. Hooked up to my boobs. I'm so glad I was able to provide milk for my child (although I'm not sure how many health benefits he gained from it, judging by his colds!). 

I don't think I would have been able to do that without a breast pump, or the support of my family and friends. (Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you out there!! You are the best.) There are still some people that don't understand why I've been pumping-why don't I just feed him from the breast? why don't I just give him formula? it's so natural, why is it so hard? But it was the choice that was best for James and I. And it's worked out very well! So, I went down to 6 pumps a day...then 5...and you get the idea. I've been doing this very slowly over the past 2 months. Because of my history, I have a higher risk of getting an infection again, so I've been going at a snail's pace. Now I'm down to 2 pumps a day. My supply was still decent, but I've been sick almost constantly the past 3 weeks. And not just cough cough sick, but 8-asthma-attacks-a-night, sinus-infection-with-a-fever-that-makes-me-want-to-die sick. My supply has plummeted. I mean, almost completely tanked. So, that is making my decision easier. I'm also taking more meds for asthma, and to keep my sickness at bay, like decongestants, which are making my supply go down. 

I've struggled with this for months now. At times I feel guilty. I feel selfish. I feel angry. I feel like a failure. My goal was to breastfeed James for 6 months. I have to remind myself that I have provided milk for my little boy for SEVEN MONTHS!! Seriously, any woman who breastfeeds at all-even just for 10 minutes-deserves a medal. It is hard. And it is complicated. And it is also very painful (or, it is for most, I should say). Breastfeeding is still painful and uncomfortable for me. When I see a woman breastfeeding her baby, I feel so proud of her. Society doesn't always support it, even though it's one of the most natural things in the world and is great for mom and baby.

This past year, I had a cesarean section, followed by complications from my c-section. I had post-partum depression. I got thrush. I got mastitis. I was hospitalized for said mastitis that didn't respond to antibiotics. That did not help my PPD, which led to therapy and more meds. I got thrush again. I went to countless doctors and four lactation consultants. I've pumped in my car, at theme parks, in bathrooms, in a mall, and at restaurants. No shame. Because it's all for James! But, baby boy is getting more mobile (not crawling yet, but rolling around everywhere) and is much more energetic. I don't have the time to sit down and pump during the day anymore. I would rather be reading, or playing, or going for a walk. So, part of this decision is selfish. But at the end of the day, it is up to Matt and I to decide what's best for our family. I don't judge other women for using formula, so why do I judge myself? We are our own worst critic. 

James is now getting 1/2 breast milk, 1/2 formula bottles, and he's happy with that. I have quite a bit frozen milk in the freezer (another benefit of pumping!), so he will continue to get the benefits of breast milk for at least another month or so. Even if I were to stop pumping when James was over a year old, I would still struggle with it. There will always always ALWAYS be mommy guilt. Am I doing what's best for my baby? Sometimes what's best for your baby must be balanced with what's best for you. So, yes. I think I am. I am in a good place physically (although there's room for improvement on that-one thing at a time!), mentally, and emotionally. I fall more in love with my son every day. It took me a while to get to this point, but it's a good place to be. And James seems to be a pretty happy little dude, so I think we're doing something right! :)

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

P.S. If you read this whole post, I wish I could give you a cookie, or a hug, or both. Thank you. 

Five Months!

It's amazing how many things can change in a month. Seeing James's development is pretty much the coolest thing ever. In the world. I'm such a mom.

He's laughing regularly now at the most random things, and at Matt. Matt and Brian definitely make him laugh the most! He loves playing (and eating) his feet, and can almost sit up by himself. He can support himself with his legs with me holding his arms out in front of him, but I'm not sure now his little feet can support the weight of his massive thighs/belly/chins.

He's taken more of an interest in Sirius, and Sirius has been very patient with him. Sirius is actually rather interested in James now that he's interacting with him more.

Both James and I have had a cold (I've had it for about 10 days now, James for 5), so that hasn't been much fun. Luckily he hasn't been *too* fussy. It's obvious that he's uncomfortable and/or in pain. Thank goodness for Tylenol! He's been running a low grade fever off and on. I've been using a snotsucker (instead of a bulb syringe) and it's very useful to clear out his little nose to help him breathe.

We've been staying busy, going to Busch Gardens and exploring the area. We went to Hunt Club Farm, which has a pumpkin patch and a non-depressing petting zoo. Aren't most petting zoos kind of pathetic? This one was cute, although James slept through most of it.

We are getting ready for our big trip to Orlando later this month, and couldn't be more excited! And nervous. But mostly excited. We were going to dress James up as an astronaut for Halloween, but we'll be flying back from Orlando on Halloween, so we got a pumpkin onesie instead. That'll do. Maybe next year!

We found out that Michele and Jason are having a baby BOY!! We couldn't be more excited for them. Katie and I are throwing a shower for Michele in December. It will be so much fun!

I always tell myself I'm going to limit myself to a couple of pictures...and then I start going through them and I just can't help myself.

Playing with Aunt Kitty and Uncle Brian (he's got swagger).

Walking around Busch Gardens with Uncle Brian (in his BGW hat, Soft Kitty onesie, and Orioles bib!)

Ok, this isn't baby, but look at us! I heart these people so much.

James goes to the petting zoo. And sleeps. Good thing his admission was free.

Daddy and James plane spotting at Oceana. James likes jet noise!

Pre-bath smiles!

Post-bath little piggy!

Some brotherly floor time.

Nonnie and James at BGW (his fourth trip to BGW!)

He loves playing with his feet.

Look, ma! Hands! (We took this picture last night, and it lasted for a few second. We're still working on him holding the bottle...what a game changer that will be!)

Crib time!

5 months!

Baby laughter!

Hope you all have a happy and healthy October!