My latest obsession: Ebates!

So, anyone that knows me knows that I love to find  bargain and save a dollar! I've heard of ebates.com many times before, and I even joined the site in 2012. However, I never actually used the site until yesterday. My husband and I are in the processing of buying and remodeling a single wide mobile home, so we are buying a lot of things for the house. I decided to give ebates a try, and I used it to purchase a hood range from Sears.com. Not only did I score a hood range for $10 cheaper than I would have in another store, but I also got $1.95 in cash back on ebates and I earn Shop Your Way points toward my next purchase! I'm now obsessed. I'm not a big online shopper, but this site is perfect for shopping for things that you don't want to look for in the store. Getting paid to shop is awesome!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=vVuANP0S7dyylf7p1gYbcQ%3D%3D

If you follow the code above, you can join ebates! It's quick and easy and totally worth it!

But, I read all the books!

When I was pregnant with Bailee, I was obsessed with reading books and I had like 4 apps on my phone to tell me what to do or not to do. They told me what to expect, and guess what? I still wasn't ready! The first night home Bailee projectile spit up in my face, and then wouldn't sleep unless she was on Alex's chest. The books didn't warn me about that! Bailee was and is still not a by-the-book baby!

Those books and apps tell you how your baby is growing and they give you advice and statistics, but your baby comes out unique and different. All those tips and tricks for soothing a fussy baby; they may not work for your baby. I remember standing in front of the TV from 1am-3am for weeks straight as a newborn Bailee screamed in my arm. I bounced, rocked, sang, danced, and eventually cried. 

I did, however, learn to soothe her without worrying how other people soothe their babies. I soothed her by following my mommy instincts. Her favorite lullaby is "Jesus Loves Me" and she liked to be bounced while her butt was being patted.

Now that I'm pregnant again, I have 2 apps and no books. I have one app to store my bump pictures and track her growing progress and one to share with my Facebook page about her growth. Oh, and yes it is another girl!! :) I was so caught up with making sure I knew what to expect with Bailee, but I feel like a Luvs commercial this time around. I'll be just as protective and paranoid, but I'll be prepared. 

13 week appointment!

Today I had my 13 week appointment! I have lost 2 pounds, but my doctor said that's normal and even good for me. My labs are all looking good, and my thyroid level was back to normal! 

I had been super worried about the thyroid levels, so I was really happy to hear that it was back to normal! I'm glad that they won't have to up my medicine! After checking my weight and peeing in the cup (oh the joy lol), I asked about my harmony results! 

The nurse said they were in and that the doctor would tell me about them. I asked her to tell me the gender so I could know and tell my husband before my mom and his mom heard it! I cannot wait to spill the beans this evening and announce what we're having!!!

After that, the doctor came in and let his intern find the baby's heartbeat! It's the most beautiful sound ever!! He's really happy with my progress, and I go back in 4 weeks for the anatomy scan! I also go back in 2 weeks for another blood test to check for some kind of disorder. 

I'm so relieved that everything is normal and that we know what we're having! :)

Pregnancy fear

When we decided to start trying for baby number 2, I was convinced that this pregnancy I wouldn't be as afraid. I thought since I've been through it once that I would know what to expect and that everything would be sunshine and roses.

I. WAS. WRONG.

Write that down. I don't say that very often, haha.

Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I have been terrified. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but I am scared of everything. I think it is because it took so long to get pregnant with our first, but this time I got pregnant the first month of trying. This makes me feel like it's too good to be true, but I know that God is in control and I have to keep the faith in him. It's hard though, sometimes.

Every time Bailee kicks or plays on me or pushes on my belly, I instantly get terrified. Every little pain, every sneeze, every cough, every little thing scares me. I hate that. I was like this was Bailee too, but I really thought it would go away with a second pregnancy. I know that once I can feel movement and I have a distinctive baby bump that I will feel better and I will relax more.

I had the Harmony test done at 10 weeks, and I'm still waiting for the results of that. It will tell me the chances of the baby having birth defects, and it will also tell me the gender. I really am impressed with technology and the fact that they can tell the gender so early now. This has nothing to do with my pregnancy fears, but I am anxious to get the results!

Anyway, today I am 13 weeks and that means I am now in my second trimester. This came with some relief, because risk of miscarriage is greatly reduced and it also means I am closer to feeling kicks and seeing my belly grow. These are the most reassuring feelings in all of pregnancy, in my opinion. Hearing the heartbeat is also really awesome ,and so are the ultrasounds!!

I'm sure there are other moms out there who have these same fears as I do, so I thought I would share my struggles.

Burrito night

My husband and I have a new found love for Qdoba, so we decided to give burritos a try at home.

I found a recipe on Pinterest for how to make the chicken in the crock pot.

Here's a link to the original post! http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/10/crockpot-qdoba-recipes.html

1-packet taco seasoning

1- carton of chicken broth

1- lb of chicken 

Put the chicken in the crock pot and top it with the seasoning packet

Next, pour the chicken broth over the chicken

Then, cook on low for 4 hours (if chicken is thawed). Or cook on low for 8 hours for frozen chicken. 

Once the chicken is done, shred it with a fork. Get your toppings together and tortillas and assemble your burrito. I added rice, black beans, cheese, sour cream, and Taco Bell mild sauce.

My only complaint for this meal is that the chicken didn't pick up the taco seasoning very well. I think by adding a second seasoning packet or less broth this could be fixed. The rice I used was $1 from walmart; it's Knorr rice sides.

My husband is a very picky eater, but he came back for thirds on this meal! My 15 month old loved the beans and rice, and I enjoyed 2 burritos myself! 

My favorite Christmas gift

I was racking my brain trying to think of something new and different to blog about. I don't want to bore my readers, and I also want to expand my base. So, today's blog will be about the holidays. 

This was the first year in a long time that I didn't want anything for Christmas. I told my mom to get me useful things like appliances. She nailed it and got me a deep fryer and a 3 pot crock pot! Alex (my husband) kept asking me what I wanted, but I just didn't want anything. My desire was the give Bailee the greatest Christmas, and we did. She got way more than she needed, and I'm thankful for that.

When I opened my gifts from Alex, I was so pleased. A new purse and perfume from my favorite designer (Betsey Johnson), a pair of coach shoes, some smelly good lotion, and then the box he wouldn't let me open til last. I had absolutely no idea of what it could have been.

When I opened it, I immediately began to cry. He had ordered custom nesting dolls for me. It was him, then me, then our nephew, then Bailee, and then 3 blanks for future babies. Now, you're probably wondering why that would make me cry.

My grandfather's mom, my mamaw Beulah, was a part of my life for a very long time. I was young when she died, but old enough to remember her. My favorite memory was when I would go to her house and play with her Russian nesting dolls while she cooked. Every time I see nesting dolls, I get emotional because it takes me back to those memories. 

We all have gifts that we love and cherish, but those nesting dolls are my favorite. What is a meaningful gift that you have received? 

Bailee's 15 month check-up!

Today I learned that single mothers deserve some sort of an award! I've always had respect for them, but today was a whole new light. My mom usually goes with me to Bailee's doctor's appointments to help me keep her calm, but she developed the stomach flu. So, that meant I had to go solo! 

Bailee was so good in the waiting room. When they called us back and I put her down to get weighed, she literally threw herself in the floor screaming and crying. I'm not used to that! If you know Bailee, you know she's a sweet and happy baby.  They ended up weighing her on a baby scale. She's now 21 pounds! 

She screamed and cried while being measured (31 inches long!!) and while the doctor examined her. Then the worst part came, shots! I had to wrap myself around her to hold her down. She was so upset. She napped in the car on the way home, and we ended up taking a 2-hour nap together this afternoon. 

So, what did I learn today? That I need more patience. I need to learn how to cope when Bailee has a bad day. She was so sleepy by 2 O'clock that nothing I did made her happy. I finally just held her and cried with her. I blame the hormones from baby number 2. Haha! 

There is no perfect parent, and it's ok to recognize that we make mistakes and that we have days where we just sit and cry. That doesn't mean that Bailee isn't the greatest thing that ever happened to me, and it doesn't mean I don't love her. She's my entire world!