Caleb's Birthday Party

We decided to celebrate Caleb's birthday on Friday the 12th. He sure got spoiled! What a lucky boy. He had a fever all day (hopefully just getting teeth) so he was a smidge cranky & sleepy. Here are a few pics of the cutie.

Not a fan of ice cream. Is it obvious??

Happy Birthday to Caleb!

My Caleb is one! When did that happen?? He's been so much fun and I can't really remember my life before him. Dumb, huh? Since he's 12 months old - here is my top 12 list (no specific order)

12. His sweet slobbery kisses

11. His turbo speed crawl

10. His health

9. His gappy front teeth

8. The fact that he chose ME for his mom

7. His laugh when I make a stupid face

6. When he's really tired & cuddles (a little-he's never been big on it)

5. His curiosity...he's always finding things he shouldn't.

4. When he's sleepy & lays down on a pillow & puts his thumb in his mouth

3. When he pulls his books off of his bookshelf

2. His cute bum

1. The slow & steady way he brings food to his lips

Finally...A TRICK!

I've been waiting patiently for Caleb to DO SOMETHING. Like wave bye bye...say mama...blow kisses...clap...freaking something! Well - it has happened finally! The past couple of days he's been learning to give kisses. The lovely wet, open mouthed, tongue moving kisses! My cheeks have been slobbered on so much - but it's so stinkin cute that I don't care! Woo hoo!

I have a snowflake hanging from my ceiling fan & when you ask Caleb where the snowflake is, he looks around frantically until he spots it. It's pretty cute.

Shopping & a NEW TREE!

On Friday night, my family did our annual Mom shopping Christmas trip. We go shop, shop, shop & then go out to dinner. We went to the Lonestar Steakhouse. It was okay food and our waiter was a happy happy annoying guy. Did you know that the staff stop and line dance at certain songs? I found that quite funny. I bet the boys hate that! Ashley wasn't feeling well at all so that wasn't much fun. Those of you that know her will find it shocking to know that SHE DIDN'T ORDER ANY DINNER! She's not one to pass up food - I've personally never seen it. Dylan also got a finger shaken at him by the Walmart greeter. It was around 10:30 at night & he wanted to ride in one of the motorized wheelchairs. The greeter said "No. Are you handicapped??" Dylan was like..."Umm, no" Thanks for stealing Dylan's thunder old greeter man. BUT - when we left Walmart (seriously, like an hour later) there was a motorized wheelchair in the parking lot & Dylan's dreams were fulfilled. I was surprised to get part of a Christmas bonus this year from my work. So I did a HUGE Costco trip & Casey suggested that we go buy ourselves this nice pre-lit tree that we both liked from Target. I love it! I'm probably going to keep our old tree as well though & then we can have a tree upstairs & downstairs (once we get furniture down there & actually spend time in that room). I imagine in 10 years I'll wonder what the heck I was thinking to have 2 freaking trees...but we'll see how it goes. The picture doesn't do it justice...it's really nice!! Caleb is FINALLY feeling like himself again. Almost 2 weeks later. Sheesh! Here is munching on some banana slices & vanilla wafers.

Shoping with coupons - again

Okay - seriously wondering if this is worth it. I can see that there are great deals - but so far it seems to be things that I don't even need. On this trip I bought 12....T W E L V E...bags of baking chips. I've got chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, swirl chips....when in the heck will I ever use them all!! I'll give couponing until the end of March. That should give me time to tell if it is worth it.

I didn't take a picture this time because I put it all away last night & forgot to.

WalMart
4 Sweetened Condensed Milk
2.00 Each - $1 off of 2 coupon – 1.50 each = $6.00

2 Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Bread
1.50 Each. Price matched from Kents = $3.00

2 Charmin Bath Tissue
4.50 Each - .25 off coupon – 4.25 each = $8.50

$17.50
Coupon savings = $2.50

Albertson’s
8 Darigold yogurt
.50 Each - $1 off of 4 coupon - .25 each = $2.00

6 Nestle Morsels
2.00 Each - $1 off 2 coupon - $1.50 each = $9.00
(I don’t know what I was thinking…Smith’s has a better deal going)

2 Gillette Razors
8.99 Each - $4 off coupon – 4.99 each = $9.98

4 Gillette Body Wash
3.50 Each - $2 off coupon – 1.50 each = $6.00

Received 5 free RedBox movie rentals with my purchase
Received $5 off my next Albertsons shopping trip
$26.98
Coupon savings = $21.00

Smith’s
2 Pampers 40 count Diapers
9.99 each - $1 off coupon = 8.99 each = 17.98

4 Hershey Baking Chips
1.29 each - $1 off 3 coupon - .96 each = 3.84
& I guess 2 weren’t on sale….so they were 2.49 each = 4.98

Baby food
Price varies – 1.50 off coupon = 7.92

Hamburger Buns = 1.00
...lost my receipt...
Coupon Savings $5.50

So - my coupon savings was $29.00 But I feel like I didn't really even 'grocery shop' and I spent my weekly grocery $ already! I'm trying to plan my meals this week around what I have here at home, so that may help. That is something that I'll have to get doing more often so that what I have doesn't go bad. Anyone have any fab recipes that include stewed tomatoes?? Mandarin oranges?? I seem to have a TON of both!

CALEB UPDATE
Last time he vomited was Monday morning...so no more vomit yet...but he is the grumpiest kid ever the past couple of days. Whining, whining, whining! He had a bottle of milk yesterday for his nap time & it didn't come back up...bonus! It would be much easier to help him out & take care of him if he could just freaking talk to me. I hope that he gets feeling better super quick because he has a BIG party coming next week for the big ONE.

I remember last year at this time it was freaking freezing and we already had snow...it's been so nice this year. What gives? It needs to snow at least a little so that I can get more into the Christmas mood. Or I could get the tree out. That might help. Stop judging me.

Frustrated

Well - Caleb is still sick. He keeps throwing up at night. I hate doctors...they seem like it's no big deal. "Keep him hydrated" No shit doctor. Here's $60.

Caleb has been throwing up since Tuedsay - that's a freaking week! This morning at 4:00 he started screaming at the top of his lungs, so I sprint to his room & he is COVERED in vomit. His whole face! It was heartbreaking. He couldn't even open his eyes because they were covered in the sickness. He was happy when I started running the bath water though. He turbo crawled into the bathroom & just sat there & waited for me to put him in. The kid likes the water.

I'm thinking acid reflux....allergies (I doubt that one kind of)...stomach flu (but would he STILL be vomiting??) I'm taking Caleb to the Dr AGAIN today...so the saga continues.

I want to get my Christmas stuff out!!! I worked 9 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Sunday & I'm taking Caleb to the Dr today & then working tonight....it's going to be Christmas before I get anything out!