First Doggy Bath

I can't recall giving a puppy a bath lately.  I think I did back in junior high when I was volunteering at the Human Society, but that has been a looooong time ago!  We took TJ in to the vet for his first puppy check up.  I also had some concerns about his dry/itchy skin.  We left with a new conditioner to try out on his coat.  I was instructed to give him a bath then let the conditioner air dry in his coat.  Shelly (his foster mom) said he did really good during bath time, and she wasn't kidding!  He stood still, didn't make a peep, and let me wash him.  Have I mentioned he is about the greatest puppy ever?  He smelled SO good after his bath.  We will have to do baths more often once we get this dry skin problem cleared up. 

10 Things I've Learned about TJ

I've learned a LOT about TJ in the last almost 24 hours we've had him... some good things, some not so good things.....

1. Crates are amazing and I'm so lucky TJ likes his!  He slept from 9:30-6:15 last night without a peep!
2. A sleeping puppy is about the cutest thing EVER!
3. TJ is figuring out where to go potty.  He's had 2 accidents in the house and both were my fault - I didn't leave him out long enough the first time, and the second time I just wasn't watching and he peed right next to the door.  He's a smart little guy.  
4. The biggest drama I had today:  Allie dropped a glass of milk on the floor, busted the glass and milk went everywhere.  I was trying to clean up that mess and Hayden told me TJ "peed a circle on the floor".  Hayden stepped in and helped me out though!
5. Dogs are really much more friendly and accepting than cats.  Little TJ couldn't wait to see Harry and Holeshot this morning (he bounced out to the garage with a big puppy smile on his face) and was greeted with a double hiss!
6. I have never woken up to a puppy - didn't really know what to expect (I was thinking a stretchy/yawning puppy) but woke up to a very loud whine.  As I hurried to let him out of his crate it was madness!  Ankle biting, pant biting, running laps through the house kinda madness.
7. Watching Hayden and TJ play together just about melts my heart.  I thought TJ would be Allie's dog, but he's definitely bonded with Hayden!
8. There are way too many kids of dog shampoos!  It took me a good 15 mins to smell and read all the puppy options at PetSmart.  I'm hoping I picked a good one!
9. Biggest fail of the day - I let Hayden pee outside - and (true story) TJ must have thought it s a sprinkler because I couldn't get him to stop running through the stream!  
10. He definitely has made our day 100% more fun!

Only When I'm Pregnant - Week 16

Am I really already 16 weeks??  Geez!  It's been a good week.  Nothing bad to report!  I did have some some foods that sounded good this week and one major craving.  The night we celebrated our anniversary we couldn't decided where to eat.  The only thing that sounded good was corn and potatoes, so I talked Kevin in to taking me to the Log Inn.  I definitely ate for two!  :)  Monday morning I woke up and thought I NEED FROSTED FLAKES!  I couldn't shake the craving, so I went to Walmart and got a value box!  It was my snack all day!

Most days I feel like my energy is exactly the same as it was before I was pregnant.  I'm still sleeping really well (even with the new pup - he's amazing!) and I'm trying to appreciate that every day!  I didn't weigh myself today, but I did earlier in the week.  I've gained into the double digits now!  I'm definitely smaller than I was with Hayden or Allie (weight wise) so I'm hoping I don't end up seeing a +50lbs this time around. 

Baby is the size of an avocado this week.  I had Kevin take my picture this morning... my belly is always the smallest in the morning before I eat breakfast, so if you see me out and about and I look huge to you, that's why :)

Expanding our Famiy - Puppy Edition

Last Friday morning, my day started the same as it always does.  I got up, put in my contacts, and checked my email.  I decided to check my facebook too because I was up early and I knew I had some time before the kids got up.  As I was checking my news feed, I saw one of my friends, Shelly, posted a picture of a puppy she was fostering named Joey.  (The picture is below).

It was love at first sight for me!  I immediately texted Kevin (who was on his way home from work) a picture of him and asked if I could get more information about him.  Kevin said yes!  When Kevin got home I was still waiting to hear back from Shelly, but Kevin thought this was Shelly's new puppy - he didn't realize the puppy was a foster pup looking for a home.  As soon as he found out the puppy could be ours, he got really excited (texing me non stop throughout the day!).  I tried to go about my day as usual, but I was dying to know what we needed to do to make him ours!

To make the situation even more weird, in the last month, I've probably told a dozen people we weren't going to get a dog this summer (like we had planned)!  We knew our Florida trip was coming up, and about the time we get home, I'll be entering my third trimester.  I know my energy goes back down a bit and I didn't want to over due it.  Little Joey was the exception.  His description said he loved animals and people, loved to snuggle, and loved car rides.  One of the things Kevin's said over and over is he wants a dog that will ride in his jeep with him.  We felt like Joey was just meant to be part of our family.  We made sure we had some options for a pet sitter (for Florida) before we turned in our application for him. 

The only problem is we were one of several families interested in Joey and we had no guarantee that he was going to be ours.  That day we found out about him, we went to PetSmart and got everything we needed for a new pup - just in case he came to live with us - and because we are just antsy people like that!  We also were able to go visit him after our PetSmart trip on Friday night.  We all fell in love with him - which we knew was bound to happen!  We waited several days, trying not to get our hopes up (maybe even stressing out a bit on my part), but today, on day 5, the wait was over!  Shelly sent me a message and said, "You're approved!... He's yours now!"  I immediately told the kids that the puppy we went to visit was coming to live with us.  Hayden was SO excited!  He was saying "YAY" over and over.  Allie was saying "Yay puppy dog"!

This is my first dog - ever!  Kevin had several in and out during his childhood, but he hasn't had one in years.  We know some people think we're crazy, but I keep telling Kevin not to listen to the nay sayers!  We only live once!  The kids are thrilled and we are excited to give this puppy a forever home!  (The cats may not be so thrilled....at least not yet) We already love our new furry addition and I'm sure he'll be featured in LOTS more blog posts in the future :)  Oh yea, and Kevin renamed him TJ.  Here are some pictures from his first few hours home!

Hayden trying out TJ's new bed.  His idea, not mine!

Some doggy supplies!

TJ's foster parent's - Shelly & Chris  (She's been grrrrreat at answering all the doggy questions I have!)

Harry checking out TJ when we first got home.

TJ eating dinner.

Hayden telling me TJ was HIS puppy!

Hayden showed him ALL his toys as soon as we got home.  I think TJ was a little overwhelmed!

TJ meets Holeshot - Hisssssss

Playing outside

He was really interested in eating the bark off the tree!

He has half a blue eye.  He's got the cutest, fuzziest puppy head!

Kevin is smitten with TJ.

Easter 2012

We had a busy but very fun Easter weekend!  Saturday the Easter Bunny dropped some eggs off at our house for the kids to hunt.  That evening, Kevin and I went to Log Inn and had a wonderful dinner!  The next morning, the kids opened their Easter baskets, we went to church, we went to Kevin's families get together, then we finished the day off at my parent's house.  The kids were exhausted today, but hopefully they'll get caught up on their sleep this week :)  Here are some pictures....

He gets his egg hunting skills from his mama!

She insisted on dragging her own bucket.

She also wanted to open every egg she picked up before moving on to the next!

I let her have a gummi bunni before breakfast!

Us with Kevin's parents

Grand kids with my parents and the Millers.

Dying Eggs

Hayden was pumped to color eggs tonight.  Every year we've done it (this is his 3rd year to do them) it's been very messy and a little stressful!  I was prepared for the same thing this year, but was pleasantly surprised how smooth it all went!  Hayden is old enough to understand being careful, and Allie really wasn't very interested in dying the eggs so we let her color with her crayons.  Here are some (dark - I forgot I turned my flash off) pictures from the evening :)

We had him start with 2 colors.

Round #1 of eggs

He graduated to 8 colors on round #2!

Allie coloring

We decorated the colored eggs with stickers and Allie got really into that!

GH Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I ran across a website that mentioned Great Harvest had a bread that fit in the "whole foods" category.  It had a short ingredient list which appealed to me - whole wheat flour, honey, water, yeast, and salt - doesn't get much simpler than that!  Compare those ingredients to the mile long list of ingredients on the bread you normally buy! I actually have an old loaf in front of me now (Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White)... enriched bleached flour, calcium propionate, sugar, cellulose, dough conditioners, ethoxylated mono and diglycerides, just to list a few of the long list.... 

Here's what I'm getting at.  I've become a lot more aware of the food I'm eating and the food I'm serving my family.  The Great Harvest bread is down right DELICIOUS!  (We had a grilled cheese using that bread for lunch and I wanted to finish the kids before they could!)  It is definitely more pricey than what you buy at the store though.  The bread I would normally buy was $1.18 a loaf, and this is $4.95.  To me, it's worth the extra money.  (I'd actually love to learn to make my own bread this equally delicious for cheaper.)

The next point, money.  It does cost more to eat healthier or organic.  I purchased organic milk for the first time this week.  I normally would get my milk at Aldi for $1.99.  It's $5.99 at Walmart for the Great Value brand of organic.  (I'd really love to find a farmer that sells organic milk locally.  Haven't done much research yet, but hopefully in the future I'll find that farmer!)  With just the change in bread and milk, I went from spending $7 weekly to $17.  To make up for the jump, we are eating less meats and I've cut back on the "snacks" I'd buy for the kids (chips, goldfish, and fruit snacks - hey, they weren't healthy anyways!). 

The biggest thing I've gained from the changes so far, I don't feel guilty for what I'm serving my family.  When we'd eat bagel bites or corn dogs for lunch, I'd always feel bad that I didn't give them something more nutritious.  Now, I watch them eat these whole natural foods and feel good about it!  That makes it all worth it!

*Just a side note* We are definitely no where near eating whole/natural/organic foods 100%.  Some nights I don't have the energy or the interest in cooking and $5 Little Caesars wins!  I do feel like we're taking small steps in the right direction though!

Only When I'm Pregnant - Week 15

I was complaining in last weeks post I just couldn't figure out if this baby was a boy or girl!  I had 4 signs through out the early part of the week that screamed, "It's a ______" to me!  I was thinking, "Thank goodness!"  Then just yesterday everything I had thought I figured out got shot down!  I started having completely opposite feelings and cravings!  Only 25 more weeks until I know for sure!

I've really tried hard this week to stay on track with eating natural/whole foods.  I've tried several new recipes (they all need tweaking for my taste, which is why I haven't shared any) but I'm allowing myself to eat what I want in small portions (example, I just ate 2 Fudge Stripe cookies, not 8 like I wanted to).  For breakfast and lunch I've been cooking to the natural/whole foods guidelines, but for dinner I've been using up what we have in the pantry/fridge/freezer/or going out to eat so I'm not wasting any food.  Another little positive, I have been stopped by a lot of (older) people lately that just like chatting with my kids.  Hayden usually ends up telling them we're having a new baby and that sparks another whole long conversation about how the world is changing/staying at home with my kids/them telling me about their family.  It's fun though and good for the kids' social skills!

My only complaint for this week is I hate how I look right now!  My uterus is just under my belly button and to all who don't know me, I just look fat.  I feel fat in about all of my shirts too.  I haven't broken out the maternity clothes yet, but I may in the next week or two.  I need to look through what I have and decide what I need to buy to get me through the summer.  My "Assets" from Target (Spanx knock off) have been a life saver!  It's comfortable enough for me to wear all day and keeps me all sucked in!

I'm needing to go price some baby items and I thought about doing that this week.  I don't like to be surprised when it comes to costs of things! My back pain is about 100% better and I'm loving having all my energy back!

Out With The Old

Getting a new fridge was bittersweet.  We had replaced all the appliances when we moved in except the fridge, so it was the only piece that didn't match the rest.  I was so excited to get a new one, and have cold drinks and food, but the cost - ouch.  Kevin and I agreed we'd look for the cheapest option.  After showing us a few, the salesman at Waynes (they are great by the way), mentioned they had a dented fridge in the back.  It was normally a $1700 fridge but because the sides were dented it was discounted!  It was the exact same brand and measurements as the old one (that we had a cabinet built around) and the color we were wanting so we just felt like it was meant to be!  Kevin hassled them on the price a bit and we got it half off the original price!  

Looking Forward To - April

Spring is my favorite season!  That alone makes April an awesome month!  Here are some things I'm looking forward to this month :)

1. Kevin and I will celebrate our 5 year Anniversary!  (April 7th)  We don't have anything planned yet, but I'm hoping to have a nice (kid-less) dinner and maybe even dress up!
2. Easter!  It's such a fun holiday!  We're going to color eggs and do an egg hunt (I still wish I got to hunt eggs!  I loved it!)
3. This month we are easing our way into an all natural/whole foods diet.  I told Kevin that requires him giving up Pepsi... so we'll see how he does!  I haven't been eating many sweets lately so I'm hoping to not have lots of struggles with it.  
4. My Dad's birthday is this month... next year he'll turn the big 6-0!
5. I'm getting my hair cut this week.  It's needed it for a month, maybe two, so I'm really looking forward to that!  (Plus I'm doing some Easter basket shopping solo after my appointment and that will be lots of fun!)
6. I'm hoping to purchase a blender and/or juicer this month.  As long as we don't have any surprises expenses (like new pipes under the house, a whole new gas line and fuel pump for Kevin's jeep, or a new fridge) than we should be ok! :)
7. I'm hoping to do some more fishing before it gets too hot!
8. Yard Sales have begun!  I haven't started shopping, but I will this month!