My Very Own Linus

3 Month Update

Has it been (almost) 3 months since Durham entered our lives? Can that be right? I truly cannot believe it. I cherish every day with him and know my time at home with him is quickly coming to an end. (I will not cry...I will not cry...I will not cry...)

Here's a little update to catch you up on what Durham's up to these days...

*He is really interested in colorful lights, such as on the TV, crib aquarium thingy, play gym thingy.

*He really doesn't like his swing much anymore. Boohoohoo!

*He is a very happy baby. He smiles at anybody and the other day he gave us his first little belly laugh. Oh my, my heart almost melted!

*His hair is getting LONG. It's his trademark. I don't plan on cutting it anytime soon. It has some curl to it, especially when it's wet or when it is humid outside. He somehow got a handful of it tonight and gave it a good tug and gave a blood curdling scream!

*He has been having stretches of 8-10 hours of sleep almost every night the past couple weeks.

*He's getting some chub on him. His cheeks are filling out some and he's getting some rolls on his thighs. He has the cutest little dimples on his knees. (I wish my dimples and rolls on my thighs looked as cute as his!)

Blogs I Like to Read...

So, I've spent way too much time recently cruising the Internet scoping out blogs. I think I've bookmarked 20 in the past 2 weeks. What can I say...addicted! I've been reading lots about Blogher...but I don't get it. Anybody familiar with Blogher? I signed up, but feel like I need a tutorial to use their site!

I thought I'd share a few of the newest blogs I've been following. Check em' out when you have a minute, hour or day!

A Year of Slow Cooking

Tasty Kitchen (The Pioneer Woman's cooking site. It will make you salivate!)

McKnob (This site is probably PG13...you have been forewarned! Thank you to my blogger-finder friend for this one...you know who you are...I've had a many of good laughs reading this blog!)

Finding My Feet (This gal finds the best garage sale finds and displays her loot each week! She also demonstrates some cool crafts...I'm not crafty, but I still like to look....and her blog is pretty...I like that too.)

Suburban Turmoil (This gal will make you laugh out loud. She links out to other articles she writes...read those too because they are equally funny!)

Jordyn's New Do

Digging For A Bargain Paid Off

Last night, I noticed that there was a garage sale being set up down the street. I could see one of those Little Tikes house/slide toy for the outdoors so I dragged Brandon down there. I didn't have any money with me at the time, so the lady said she would hold it for me and to come back today. Well, that was really the only thing I went back for...but this is also what I came home with.
2 books for me...a Danielle Steele book and another one that sounded pretty good (ya know...to read in my free time). I also got 3 books for my classroom at school. I think I paid $2.50 for all of these books.

Just when I was about ready to check out, I spotted some little boy clothes. All of these clothes were in mint condition and actually looked like they could be brand new...no holes, no stains. I paid $6.00 for these.

Jordyn did a little shopping, as well. She found these shirts and talked me into buying them...$6.00 later, and they were hers.

I think I'm going to take up garage sale shopping for a living! It's a heck of a lot cheaper than getting things full price (or on sale, at that!)

3 of My 4 Favorite Boys

Want to know what keeps me busy 23 of the 24 hours of the day? You're looking at them!

4th of July in Milwaukee

We (minus Brandon & Kye) headed up to Milwaukee for the 4th of July. Thanks Brad & Mindy for a fun weekend! Mom and Dad, Jordyn, Camden, Durham and I all crammed into our car and off we went. Brett would have been impressed by our inventive packing! We headed down to Lake Michigan for a fabulous fireworks show on the 3rd. On the 4th, we woke up early and participated in....oops, I mean watched the Wauwatosa 4th of July parade. We headed back to Brad and Mindy's for a cookout then went to Wauwatosa's fireworks that evening. Pontiac's fireworks were cancelled on the 4th, due to the pouring down rain we had back home. Fortunately, we made it back in town on Sunday just in time to head over to a friend's house and watch them from their back yard.

I only took 2 pictures at the parade. Don't really know why, other than I was exhausted after a 2 block stint of pushing a cooler in a stroller through the parade (and this was after we walked several blocks up hill!). I guess it was a combination of sweating profusely and my legs and arms feeling like jello that I didn't have the energy to pick up my camera...Ha! It's a long story...Mindy's version would include her pushing a double stroller with 2 infants through the parade...Jordyn's version would include her pushing a stroller with a 5 year old with a 2 year old on the 5 year old's lap...Dad's version would include just trying to keep up with all of us stroller pushers...Camden's version would be that he was kicked out of his stroller so his mom could push the cooler. Long story, don't ask!
Here's Max...the only other picture I took at the parade.

I thought I'd throw this picture of me with my 2 sister-in-laws... for you to guess what in the heck we were doing! I'm not telling...

Ahhhh...this is better! We're a bit more serious. Here's something you probably don't know about the three of us when we get together--9 of 10 times, we are wearing coordinating outfits. I guess it was "wear brown" night!

I tried to warn Mom that it was going to be cold down by the lake. She was freezing!

Miss Micah all covered up. She took a catnap before the fireworks started.

Oh lordy, these two little boys had a blast together! Don't they just look like they are up to something here?

We deemed Dad the official photographer of the weekend. When you see him, ask him about the lady biker we saw!

Jordyn was so sweet to Elsa. She painted Elsa's finger and toenails red & blue before all of the festivities started.
Durham just kind of went with the flow all weekend.

Don't you just love Elsa's new do? I do!

Brad's funny...he has great technique getting 3 cars parked in his work's parking garage in downtown Milwaukee. We won't tell his secret though! It has something to do with tricking the security officer.

Brett & Carrie

Brad & Mindy

Savvy Consumer

I'm always looking for a good deal and I try to be a smart shopper. I thought maybe I'd post an occasional idea that worked for me. If you have any ideas that work for you...let me know!

Here's a couple ideas for today:

#1 NEVER, EVER pay for shipping when you shop online!! Just don't do it. But you shop online, you say? So do I! Here's my trick. Before you place your order, do a Google search for coupon codes. For example, I ordered a photo book from Snapfish last week. I Googled "Snapfish Coupon Codes." A list of websites devoted to coupon codes pops up. When you find a code that might work for you, go back to the website you are ordering from and plug the code into the spot where it says, "promotional codes/coupons/etc." I didn't find a code for free shipping on this particular search, but I did find a code for 20% off photo books and gifts. My savings...$6.00 (just as good as free shipping).

#2 If you are disappointed with service you have recieved at a restaurant, hotel, etc...don't be shy...let someone know. My feelings on this one is that if you are paying for a service, it better be good. A while back, Brandon and I took the kids to Logan's to eat. The food was okay, but the service was horrible (and that was an understatement). We left and I was ticked. My rule of thumb is that if I'm still ticked the next day, then I go to their website and make a complaint. So I did. Within a day or two, the manager from Logan's called, apolgoized, and sent us coupons for 4 free entrees, 1 free apetizer, and 1 free dessert. Another example was this past weekend. When we went to Milwaukee, we stayed at the Radisson. Unbeknownst to me, my room door was painted. I got paint all over my (not so new...needed a new one anyway!) purse. I let someone at the front desk know and they were so nice about it. I got a free night's stay out of it.

Go Cubs Go...Not Today :(

Today, Brandon and I took Jordyn and Kye up to the Cubs game. Unfortunately, they didn't do so swell, but we had a great time regardless. Aside from the rain (it rained steady until about the 4th inning!) and the cold (brrrrrr...I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and I was still cold!!), we had awesome seats. We were 3 rows up from the field, right in front of the Cubs bullpen. We ate our fair share of hot dogs, nachos, & peanuts. No beer today, though...too cold! My friend and I joked before we went up that I would get beer spilled on me...and it happened! Just on my foot though.
Kye wanted a better view, so he hopped in the row in front of us...see that gal in the blue jacket with her hood up...Kye flirtted with her the whole game!

Couldn't leave without a few pictures in front of the famous sign!

And more...

Here we are after the game...cold, wet, and ready to hit the dusty trail.

Our little Cubs fan...

My mom watched Camden and Durham for us today. (Thanks, Mom!) It was the longest I had been away from the baby since he was born. I did quite well (and so did he).