Another LONG update!

I really wish there was more time in the day! Blogging is so fantastic for me, if only I had more free time to do it daily! So much happens in our lives and Charlotte Olivia is learning and doing more things worth reporting every day, but its always bedtime before I know it, and my blog absolutely takes a backseat to dinner and laundry. Regardless, I update whenever I find time! Brace yourself for a long post full of pictures! 

Playdate :)

Last week Charlie had her very first real playdate, with her friend Aza Breeze, who we call Breeze. Baby B is two and a half months older than C.O and Troy and I have known her parents Whitney and Jason for about over three years now. Whit and I have been meaning to get the girls together for awhile now, but we both went through those first few months of being rookie moms where we didn't take the baby out much! Now that they're a little older, though, we both seemed to have a little more time on our hands. We planned the playdate for last Tuesday, and I actually almost canceled! The day before, I had an emergency root canal, and I was feeling super sore, so I had thought about rescheduling. I felt like Charlie shouldn't suffer for my teeth, though, so I loaded her up and headed over. I'm so glad I did! They just had the best time! Charlotte Olivia was clearly impressed with Breeze's crawling, and I thinking it showed her that someone her size can be on the move too! Since then shes been on her belly nonstop, trying to get moving! They played with toys together, rolled around, laughed, and let Whit and I catch up on mommy talk. They wore each other out after a few hours and they both hit the rack for a long nap! I cant wait to take her on her next playdate! She has two little friends to see soon! Sophia, who is a few months older, and Kimber Jane who is a month younger! After seeing how much she enjoyed spending time with her friend, I want to make more time for social calls for her! 

Breeze and Charlotte Olivia

Playing with toys together, while Charlie trys crawling like her big girl friend!

Charlie, me and baby B

So, since her playdate, Charlotte Olivia has had a busy week! She came home ready to attempt crawling, and shes been trying hard ever since. Shes definitely moving backward, but we haven't seen much moving forward yet. When we place her on her belly in the crawl position, though, she manages to move far away for where she started. Shes getting the hang of it, but shes not quite there yet. On the 31st of January she will be six months old, so I'm hoping the crawling comes soon. Shes spending a lot of time learning and also in her walker and johnny jumper. I know all of the exercise will strengthen her muscles and help her to get moving on her own, but shes on her own time! I guess we will just keep waiting! Thursday she started acting a little fussy and she suddenly had a temperture and a lot of congestion. I got her humidifier going, broke out the baby vicks and vapor bath, and started sleeping her upright. Since Monday was a holiday, I didn't want her to get stuck over a long weekend without seeing her doctor, just in case she got worse. Her TERRIFIC pediatrician fit her in [as ALWAYS] on Friday morning, and he sent her home with a great medicine. It was a liquid decongestant and she takes it every 6 hours. It helped IMMENSELY! Almost right after she took it on Friday, everything loosened up, and I was able to clear out her nose. My little cub felt loads better afterward, it was obvious! We spent the weekend getting her well, and letting her rest. 

Sunday

Early Sunday morning, we met Troys mom Marlene and her longtime boyfriend Jim to have breakfast. We had a lovely visit and they got to love on their little grand daughter. Charlotte Olivia doesn't get to spend as much time with them as she does my parents, because they are older and she IS quite a handful as a baby! Now that shes getting older, it will only be a little longer before shes self sufficient enough to spend more time out at her daddy's childhood home with her Grandma. 

Charlie with Grandma Marlene

With Grandma Marlene and Grampy Jim

 

After breakfast, I dropped CO and Troy off at home and I went to do the marketing alone. Lately, Ive been attempting extreme couponing! Ive heard there is a TV show about it, but I haven't seen it yet. About a year ago, I heard about these women paying less than $10 out the door on hundreds of dollars worth of groceries! Obviously, it seems impossible! It just seemed too complicated for me to master at the time, but in the last year, more and more people I actually KNOW have gotten the hang of it. I decided to try, with just a Sunday paper. Now, to get the largest savings, you really need to get manufactures coupons offline, which i plan to do this week for my next shopping trip. I normally shop at Wal Mart, because its always seemed like nothing could be cheaper. This time, I shopped at Tom Thumb, buying only name brand items. After pairing coupons with store sales, and having most either doubled or tripled, I ended up shaving 74.94 off a 100.00 bill! It was less than 30.00 out the door! This isn't including all of the buy one get one free items that I was able to get with couponing! I ended up with what Id guess is well over 300.00 worth of food and household items! Tom Thumb was also having a special that gave you .10 off of gas with a 50.00 purchase. So, we both filled up our cars for 2.73, while most gas stations are 2.99 or more right now! I'm extremely proud of how well I did! My plan is to double my savings next time around, which should be in two weeks or more. Normally, I spend over 200.00 a week in groceries. This time I spent less than 30.00 and we have enough food for over two weeks! I highly recommend figuring out how to extreme coupon and making it work. You end up with an abundance of everything. For example, I got four boxes of cereal for less than the price of one, but had I just bought one, I wouldn't have been able to get the deal. I use Clorox wipes daily. I got three tubs for less than the price of one. Tom Thumb has proven to be the best couponing store in our area. Albertsons doubles and triples coupons as well, but the in store sales don't pair as well. Also, I noticed that every single person shopping, that I looked at anyway, was couponing. The cashier knew exactly how to work coupons and there was no awkward waiting or frustrated people behind you. Tom Thumb is seemingly the most expensive market, but when couponing, its far cheaper than Wal Mart! Anything we save at the grocery now, we match in cash and put in Charlotte Olivia's savings account.

So proud to say I did this just by clipping coupons and shopping smart!

We hadn't seen our friends Nick and Nicole in what seemed like forever, so they came to visit Sunday evening. Nick and Troy have been friends about nine years, and we met Nicole when he did, around five years ago. We have always considered them to be lifelong friends of ours. They finally were able to spend some time with CharlieO before her bedtime and the four of us had a ball catching up. I was in some serious mouth pain by now, because the previously mentioned dental work Id had done had become infected! Luckily my dentist had given me his pager number in case of something along those lines, and he called in emergency antibiotics and pain medication late that night, and Troy picked it up immediately. After I had taken them, I was able to sleep! Before the pain got too terrible, though, we had some long missed fun with them! I made ribs and queso and everyone snacked. We played cranium, and of course, Nicole and I beat Troy and Nick into the ground! I took some fun pictures! Forgive my homely, no makeup looks. 

Charlotte Olivia and Auntie Nicole

Our oldschool group reunited! Troy, Nick, Nicole, and Me

During cranium, I had to silently act out "Charlie Chaplin" so i drew this on quickly and then flipped around and pretended to take a hat off and walk like him: NICOLE GOT IT RIGHT IMMEDIATELY! lol

Mr and Mrs Nick Townsend

Our favorite boys, living it up and loving each other. These guys have been best friends a long time :)

Nicole and Sam :)

For your viewing pleasure, Troy attempting a cranium "Humdinger" for Nick. This is where you have to hum or whistle a song, and your team mate has to guess it. I'm FULLY convinced they cheated, and that troy showed him the card. You, clearly, cannot tell what troy is humming. Thank God I happened to catch this monstrosity on film.

Monday we kept it lowkey and CharlieO spent the day enjoying her daddy being off of work. My family was out of town for the weekend, and her Memo missed her terribly. So, this morning mom came over to see her. I was having more dental work done that I had to be gassed for, so she drove me to my dentist, stayed with Charlie during, and then brought me home. The doctor advised me not to have the baby alone, because I would be out of it for a few hours, so she went home with Mom to spend the night. Before leaving, mom dropped off a few things our lucky daughter had brought to her from out of town. We are very blessed with family who send her goodies all the time, and of course, her Memo cant take a trip to the grocery without bringing her something back! Ill end this post in pictures of Charlie and her great gifts. 

watching daddy play call of duty 

go dad go!

blue bunny easter dress, from my Tio Juan and Tia Susan

Hat and gloves, valentines "Heart Breaker" outfit, and ADORABLE striped sweater suit from my mom

Onsies from my Tio Juan and Tia Susan

Cute little red track suit from my Tio Juan and Tia Susan

I just LOVE how well people are beginning to know her. A lot of frills and such just aren't her style! Going to take it easy for the rest of the night, as my face is losing its numbness by the minute! I'm way excited for a new Top Chef all stars, too! 

Sam