8 months

Even though I feel as though Owen's first 8 months have just sped past in the blink of an eye, this is really such a fun age.  Watching him grow has been awesome.  Observing the ever-growing bond between him and Isaac is beautiful.  Lately, he's really starting to show his personality.  He's much more laid back than his brother, but he does cute-spunky things all the time.  He'll often just babble with Isaac, or to himself, or to the stacking cups he loves so much.  He discovered his boy parts a little over a month ago, but now, he'll mischievously laugh at his discovery {every diaper change}.  Speaking of diapers, he hates them.  He'd rather be naked.  Whenever he's fussing with Daddy, and thus handed over to Mommy, he'll instantly look at Dad with a giant grin.  I love when he tucks his head down on my shoulder with his face under my chin, and smiles, when he's greeted by strangers.  I love that he looks like a little mini version of my Grandfather in Taiwan.  I love that he scrunches up his face and exhales all the time, just to be a goof. And he generally doesn't seem to be all that interested in doing anything but sitting and watching.  He's a food lover {especially fruit, and his puffs, and his Baby Mum Mums},  still our little snuggle bug, fascinated with anything Isaac is doing, a little bit of a drama king {Divo #2}, and we just love him SOOOOOO much.

Happiness

Blake doesn't get all of the hoopla around the royal wedding.  I loved it.  Not only do I feel it's a modern day Cinderella story, but in a world full of hurt, and wars, and terror, it was just so pleasant to soak up those moments of happiness, love, and good, kind hearts.  It warms my own heart.  For a moment, there was nothing else but watching these two people, so in love, commit to one another.  I'm so happy for the both of them.

Thursday Deals - 4/28/2011

1. FREE Sesame Street "For Me, For You, For Later" kit.  Details here.  It's a guide for children focused on spending, sharing and saving.  Includes a parent guide, activity book and DVD.

2. FREE sample of Best Bully Sticks for your dog.  100% beef and USDA inspected. 

3. Right now if you like Aerie {a division of American Eagle} on Facebook, you can print a coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase.  I'm sure you could find something to get for FREE. :)

4. Get a FREE Mother's Day card at Tinyprints.com.  Just enter code MDGIFT at checkout.  Shipping to yourself is free or $0.44 if you want to ship it to someone else.  Nice!

5. Get a FREE personalized song, sung by Elmo, with your child's name here.  Just enter code myelmo to get started.  Cute! :)

6. FREE Cup or Cone of yogurt for moms on Mother's Day, May 8th at TCBY.  Details here.

7. Famous Footwear is having their Friends and Family event through May 1.  Get 30% off your entire purchase with coupon code FRIENDS30 or in-store with this coupon.4

8. $10 off a $25 purchase at JCPenney with this coupon or with coupon code CANTBEAT online {expires 4/30}.

Picture Paste

Have you heard of it?  It's great!  It's a neat little program that allows you to embed pictures right into your e-mail messages because it codes it for you.  I stumbled upon it when I was researching how to embed pictures into e-mails (particularly, Gmail).  I wanted to send welcome e-cards to my Kindermusik families without the hassle of using an attachment.  I just wanted it all right there, in front of them, when they opened the e-mail.  Helloooo Picture Paste.  Wonderful! :)  Here's what I'm sending.  Cute, right?

Hair cut Friday Update

I got my hair cut last Friday - thanks to you, readers, I ended up going with some version of #2.   The bangs are driving me c.r.a.z.y, but MUCH cuter, yes?

Blessed Easter

Happy and blessed Easter from our two boys.

Clearly, they really wanted to take a picture. :)

Hair cut Friday

This week is family hair cut week.  My appointment is on Friday.  I've had a love-hate relationship with hair cuts.  What happens is every time we visit Taiwan, I get a rockin' hair style.  I love it.  Modern and easy.  I like it so much, I just want to continue with the same hairstyle when I get home, but inevitably, my hair ends up just......boring.  I know I have thick hair, and hair that doesn't hold curl, but is it so much to ask for a cute hair cut?  The Taiwanese hair stylist, David, just has the magic touch. 

Blah........

So.....I'm going to just attempt something similarly different all-together.  My last rockin' Taiwanese hair cut from 2008 is just a happy memory.  Which cut do you like best? {Vote in the poll to the right! --->} Or, if you have suggestion for a different style, please share! :)

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Brothers in a bathtub

Here's hoping I can get back to more regular posting after this week! :)  Just wanted to share this video.  It seems the thing to do when you have two young kids is to bathe them at the same time.

So, we started doing just that last Friday {4/15}.  They both enjoy each other so much, and it warms my heart to watch them together.  Enjoy! :)

Thursday Deals - 4/14/2011

1.  15% off your purchase at Famous Footwear + FREE Shipping with code SPRING11. Expires 4/23.

2. 20% off your purchase at Payless Shoes with code 44834.  Expires 4/24.

3. Gifts to Grow:  I got 50 FREE Points with code Happybdaypamprs.  I'm hoping it's not valid only for today!

4. Now through April 18, buy one photobook, get TWO free at Snapfish with code MOMMYBOOKS.  Great deal!

5. FREE entree from Panda Express when you purchase a 2-3 entree plate, with this coupon.

6.  The Canvas People are offering a FREE 8x10 photo canvas or $50 toward a larger size.  Just pay shipping.  Details here.  Perfect for your Spring family pictures!

7. FREE sample of Huggies Supreme Baby Wipes here.  But, you need to be a Sam's Club member to request this!

8. Here's a coupon for $5 off Pedigree Dog Food.

Crazy Busy

Here are the reasons I'm absent lately.  I promise I'll be back soon!  Promise!

1.  I work for 2 Catholic Churches - this is the time of year for Confirmation and preparation for Stations of the Cross, Vespers,  communal penance services, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter, and First Communions.  I think you get the idea. :)

2.  I'm expecting my Kindermusik license within a day or two.  They are experiencing technical difficulties on their end with the processing, but I've completed all of my coursework, my practicum, and my applications, so I'm well on my way!

3.  Real estate.  Getting into the business is tough, so I've been doing community events, open houses, and anything I can fit in, in my free time, to get my face out there.

4. Being a mom.  And I love it!

Thursday Deals - 4/7/2011

1.  30% off your entire purchase at Ann Taylor/Loft with this coupon.  Expires 4/10.

2. FREE Vegetable Garden Guide from Burpee here.  I'm planning on starting a garden this year, so this would probably really come in handy!

3.  Another 20 Gifts to Grow Points with code WELCOMEGTGPTS10 and GTGREWARDS4MOMS

4. FREE Sample of Boss Orange Fragrance here.

5.  On April 17, Target is giving away FREE reusable tote bags {with purchase} to its first one million customers.  More info here.

6. FREE sample of Aveeno Hair Care products here.

Baby Chub

I often find myself admiring all of Owen's cute little rolls.  Part of it is motherly love - knowing that since he is breastfed, that I played a major role in those chubs.  The other part makes me wonder why we are so obsessed with skinniness.  I'm not talking about normal, healthy skinniness.  I'm talking about the too thin kind.  Come on, rolls are cute! :)

Eagle Watch

Have any of you seen this LIVE streaming video of a pair of bald eagle's in their nest?  They have three eggs, each laid 2 days apart a little over a month ago, and they are due to start hatching TODAY.  Isaac has bee pretty fascinated with watching the mama bird on the nest all morning.  We're going to continue checking in on them!


Streaming Video by Ustream.TV

Thursday Deals 3/31/2011

Sorry these are a day late!  SUPER busy day yesterday! :)

1. FREE Signature Collection, Travel-sized with any purchase at Bath and Body Works with this coupon.

2. $15 off $50 at The Limited with this coupon.  Expires 4/2.

3. FREE Outside-In Cinnamon Bites at Arby's with the purchase of any Combo.

4. $10 off a $50 purchase at Lowe's with this coupon.

5. FREE Customized Wall Portrait at Sears.  This is nearly a $45 value!  Details, here.  No purchase necessary, no sitting fees.

6.  10 more Gifts to Grow points with code 10000LatinasFbk

7. If you have a Regal Cinemas near you, print a coupon for $1 off a popcorn or $1 off a small soft drink.  You'll still be paying an arm and a leg for it, but you saved $1! :)

6. If you join the Quizno's Q-Club, they'll send you a coupon for a small sub and a cookie for just $2.99.

7. FREE sample of Breathe Right Advanced here.

8. FREE Juno Baby CD here.  Or, if you want to play their fun game to get your free CD, find and click on 10 teddy bears on their website here.  Make sure your pop-up blocker is turned off.

9. Get a FREE cup of Starbucks Coffee or Tea to celebrate Earth Day on April 22!