Wordless Wednesday - Where did November go?

Iron Bowl 2012

Roll Tide!

Yes, we won.

We get bragging rights for the next year, but I don't want to rub it in anyone's face.

The real point to ponder here is...

TRENT RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENT 2012. 

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

2011.

What a year.

A year filled with enough ups and downs to last a lifetime.

But.. with everything, I give thanks with a grateful heart.

For my Harrison. 

The precious gift of my Harrison, who has opened and expanded my little heart more than I ever thought imaginable.

For Mr. Smith, for being the husband and father I knew he would be and will be. 

(Even if it's deer season.)

For my parents, as they survived their house crashing in around them on April 27. 

For their lives being spared. 

For their constant positive outlook even as their world was literally shaken upside down.

For their love of H.

For family and friends who rushed to the scene, helping them save as much as possible of my childhood memories.

For my Brother, who keeps me in stitches yet keeps me in check.

For Sister I and Sister II, for being the best sisters-in-law a gal could ask for.

For my In-Laws, who treat me as their own Daughter.

For their love and devotion to H and his well-being.

For friends, who keep me laughing, keep me grounded, and keep me sane.

For a roof over my head as I type this, as so many do not have one.

For food on my plate, as so many do not have the means to provide for themselves nor their families.

For the clothes on my back, even as I complain about them not ever fitting right again or that they are not "in style"... that I realize that others simply want to warm themselves this winter.

For my job and co-workers, that they have blessed me with the opportunity to work from home and rush to love on Harrison when we do go to the office. 

And... for my Heavenly Father, who continues to love me unconditionally, listen to me constantly, and encourages me every day with a

"Okay, Christina.  Let's try it again today.

Love. 

Love me.

Love others.

That's all I ask for."

Yes, Lord. 

I am thankful. 

With a grateful heart, I am thankful.

Seven Months Old!

Dear Harrison,

You are seven months old!  My big boy!

I can see the wheels turning in that little head of yours... especially when you don't get your way!

You are in Size 3 diapers and Size 6-9 Month clothing.  Not sure how much you weight, since there is no pediatrician visit this month, but you have put on a considerable amount of weight, Pork Chop, from all this baby food. 

You're on Mommy Milk and are eating your baby food 2-3 times a day.  Your favorite is bananas, and you LOVE baby yogurt. 

You're still napping about 3 times a day.

Your favorite hobbies include watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins - in fact, you're quite obsessed.  You literally light up like it's Christmas morning when their theme songs come on.  It's hilarious.

More pictures?  Mom - quit taking pictures of me!

See those teeth?

Mom... quit kissing on me!  You're so embarrassing.

(Side Note:  Had to get the "Billy Ray" chopped off.  I've got a very short bob.  Mr. Smith calls it the "College Christina" look.)

You LOVE your bath time!  I honestly think you would stay in the bath all day long if I would let you.

Oh My Gawd. 

I'm melting. 

Melting.

You can have anything you want, my child. 

Anything.

Baby All I Want for Christmas is...

... Pajama Jeans.

Yeah, that's right.

Feels like pajamas but looks like denim?

Where do I sign up?

It is my pledge to you all (all 5 of you) to try out these modern miracles. 



Code Brown, Part Deux

So, with the introduction of foods has come very interesting developments with H... in the bowel region. 

My normal "let's go #2 once a week breastfed baby" now likes to go about 37 times a day.

I may or may not be exaggerating - I like to keep you guessing mid-week.

Recently these new developments led to a very fun Code Brown Situation in public.

As I waited in line at Savages - a scrumptious bakery here in B'ham - with H in my arms, I noticed lots of people looking at him.  Of course, being the proud mommy that I am, thought "Oh, look, they think my baby is so cute and precious. That must be why we're garnering so many looks." 

Then I smelled it.  And crossed my fingers that the bakery scent would cover it until we departed.

Getting back to the car (whilst balancing some boxes of calorie-free goods) and putting H in his car seat, I saw the path of destruction.

Poo. 

POO EVERYWHERE. 

Exploding out of his cute smocked outfit, down both his legs, across my waist, smears down both my arms...

Did I mention I was wearing a white cardigan? 

It gets worse.

Since I had about 2 baby wipes left in the diaper bag that day, I used them on Precious Babe and rode home covered in the Poo. 

With the heat on. 

Imagine that smell.

Should I tell you there was smear on my face when I checked the rear view mirror? 

Does that make you laugh harder?

Happy Wednesday.

Love, First Time Mommy

Baby Fever!

Lots of baby love going on around these parts! 

In the past week, I've gotten to meet two lovely ladies as they graced us with their presence:

Sweet Kate Preston, born to one of my oldest friends, Mrs. Bates.

You may remember she is a twin to Mrs. Dean...

...whom I like to call "The Baby Whisperer."

Just a few days later, I got to meet Miss Linley Cate, newest addition to Mrs. Bremmerman.

Proud Big Sister Madilyn wanted in the picture too!

 

And just last night, I got to celebrate with Mrs. Baker at one of her Baby Showers.  Pics to come on her blog, as I was her unofficial photographer with her camera. 

The baby fever is strong around here!!!

What happens in 18 years?

As I'm watching H absorb his "Little Einsteins" today, I wanted to ask y'all about your opinions on saving up for his future college education.

One thing Mr. Smith and I wanted to do for his first Christmas was to have some sort of account already open, so we (and family) can deposit some moola in there to get it going. 

And then we looked at all the accounts (and varying opinions) and were a little gobsmacked.

ESA?  529?  Custodial Account?  Regular Savings?

I've got a basic understanding of each, with their respective ups and downs, but we still haven't pulled the trigger on any one sort of account. 

And Christmas is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

I'm a big believer in higher education, but also a big believer in the idea that the standard "4-year university experience" isn't for everyone.  Hypothetically speaking, if Mr. Smith and I save up moola for H for 18 years, and then he decides the college route is not for him or he gets a full-ride (Please Sweet Lord, let it be so!  Could we have a future Crimson Tide quarterback with a 32 ACT score? A mom can dream, right? ), what do we do with the moola saved?  Get penalized or taxed for it? 

Sigh.

What to do... what to do....what to do...

Anybody have any ideas on this subject???

Number Crunching

Last week I saw an old friend/co-worker who inquired about H's transition to food.  As I started to tell her about making the homemade baby food, she stopped me with a "Oh - you're totally that mom now."

At the risk of getting eye rolls from all of you... yeah, I am. 

But... hear me out. 

Yes, I've been making H's baby food for the past 2-3 weeks, but the nerd in me crunched the numbers, and here's what I've got to show all you frugalistas, ok?  (Plus, did you know some of that baby food can stay on your shelf for up to 3 years?  Think about that.)

So, H has been eating about 2 helpings of baby food per day now.  Sometimes I slide in a third helping, but he's still on a Mommy Milk diet - the baby food is just a happy addition to his diet.

As stated before, I do the grocery shopping for our familia in 2 week spans, so this is based on a 2-week project timeline.

Commercial Baby Food

2 jars of Baby Food @ $1.30 per Day = $2.60

$2.60 X 14 Days = $36.40

That's about $72.80/month.

I'm not adding in tax here... use your imagination.

Homemade Baby Food

2.37  pounds of bananas = $1.64

3.52 pounds of sweet potatoes = $3.48

Plus, I picked up a box of Baby Oatmeal for $3.69 (you make it with Mommy Milk)

And some Baby Yogurt (he loves it!) for $5.00

That's $13.81 for 14 Days.

And will be about $27 for November.

Last time I checked, those numbers added up in my favor with over $40 saved.

Plus, it's really easy.  And you can freeze it. 

As a friend would say... knock me over with a feather.

I'm sold. 

Harrison's First Halloween

Last night Mr. Smith and I took a very cute little Puppy door-to-door for his very first trick-or-treating experience...

Aunt Anna was our tour guide and manuevered us through the neighborhood.

We collected lots of yummies, which Mommy sampled. 

Our last stop was Aunt Suz, who didn't have any candy, but gave the Puppy lots of hugs!