It's been a while, yes? Hello again! I've been up to so many things lately that I have been too exhausted to blog.
1- Having fun with my little guy: Will has burst into a whole new phase of interactivity. He babbles, squeals, reaches up for me, hugs, and offers to share his pacifier with me. He plays games and is so much fun to tickle! The best part of my day is getting him into a good fit of laughter. We're working on crawling. He's not there yet, but I have a feeling he will be by the end of the month. He hates tummy time, so it's slow-going. He seems much more interested in climbing and trying to walk when we hold him up by his hands.
2- Making baby food: My mom and my friend McKell turned me on to making my own baby food. It's cheaper (so much cheaper!) and I like knowing exactly what goes into Will's food. I make everything except juice and cereal. So far, he's tried: rice cereal, oatmeal, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes (by far his favorite!), carrots, pears, and apples. Oh, and we tried giving him prune juice, to... ahem, get things moving. That is the one thing he has flat-out refused. I'm thinking that over the next few weeks leading up to Turkey Day, I'm going to introduce him to russet potatoes and turkey. Maybe I'll figure out a way to introduce him to onions and bread, too, so he can enjoy a full Thanksgiving "meal" with everyone else on the big day. He's a really good eater and always finishes his bowl of food. Feeding him is one of my favorite things to do. He's a good eater and actually not too messy--except when he likes to blow raspberries right into a full spoon.
3- Wheeling and dealing: I have recently discovered the magical world of couponing. Who knew you could save SO MUCH MONEY?! I think of what I used to spend a month on groceries as a single person--and how often I'd have to skip out on going to a movie or eating out or buying that super cute sweater/pair of shoes/etc. And to think I could have done all of those things a MORE if I'd only known... sigh. But no more regret! I am on a roll! I can't believe how much money I'm saving these days and it makes other things possible. Right now I'm reserving the extra money from our grocery budget to get Will either a jumper or an exersaucer (any thoughts, anyone?). My favorite day of the week is Wednesday because that's the day my Smith's ad shows up along with my coupon books. I wish a I got the Sunday paper, because there are a couple of other coupon inserts that only come with a subscription. Still I'm doing pretty well. On a typical week, I save more than a spend, and that's a great feeling. My major deals this week that I'm so proud of are a pack of diapers I got for $1.27, and a package of mashed potatoes that THEY paid ME to take home! When I first set my grocery budget, I thought it'd be ramen noodles and rice and hamburger helper until we were finished with school. But we're eating better than ever! Yay for coupons! Oh, and I have conveniently provided a list of my favorite "deals" Web sites on the tool bar of this blog, so check them out. "A Thrifty Mom" has a section on her blog called "Coupons 101" to help you get started on your own adventure.
4- Knitting a sweater for Will: This is my first real clothing project. I've done socks and scarves before, but this is the first thing I've made that needs to actually fit in a specific way. I'm probably halfway done with it, and I'm hoping to finish before this weekend. One thing I secretly (now not so secretly) love about knitting is that it gives me an excuse to sit down and REST and maybe even turn on the TV a little and still be doing something productive. But the thing I love the very most about knitting is feeling like I am connecting with a centuries-old art form that women have been doing for ages to help provide for their families. Like baking bread. I feel connected to the women who came before me. And finally I understand why my mom would sit in front of the TV counting under her breath. :) Will post pics of the final project when it's completed.
5- Killing regenerating spiders: We think they're somehow coming through the lights on the dining room ceiling, because we mostly find them on the ceiling there. And they don't stay dead. The other day I smashed one dead on the kitchen floor with my flip-flop. I left it there for a couple minutes because I was in the middle of attending to Will. When I came back to throw it away, this once paper-thin spider's legs were regenerating. I know. Chris thought I was crazy, too. But then yesterday I smashed one on the bedroom wall. It fell to the ground, dead. A few minutes later when I went to pick it up and throw it away, gone. Nowhere to be seen. I guess the moral of the story is to pick it up right then and flush it down the toilet. I hate creepy crawlies. Every time I kill a mosquito, I think about how happy I am that I not only killed that mosquito, but that I prevented any future generations that may still have come from it. I think of the future and sigh with satisfaction that someday, because of me, maybe a million fewer mosquitos will exist in this world. I don't care if PETA and the Jainists come after me. Mice, spiders, mosquitos, and the like have absolutely no business living alongside human beings.
Sorry there are no pics for this post. Our camera is dead (needing new batteries) and I couldn't find our cord to hook up the camcorder to upload some funny videos we took the other day. Also my parents gave us our Christmas gift early this year--a new iMac! Next Monday we'll be taking it to the Apple store along with this old computer so they can transfer all our music, pictures, etc onto the new computer. They tell us it will take anywhere from 24-48 hours, so if you try to get ahold of us between Monday and Wednesday, call. We will be electronically incommunicato.
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