Rock On!

Woo Hoo. I feel so loved. Mandy at Life's About a Dream bestowed the Rock On Sistah Friend award upon me the other day. She is one of my new friends that I met via the internet before moving to SC. She's gotten me all the hookups including our little Maggie.



The Rules:


# If you receive the “Rock on Sistah Friend” award, you must post the button on your blog (in sidebar or in a post), and link back to Color Me Untypical.
# Let Jia know if you receive the award from someone, so she can add you to our Sistah’s Who Rock Blogroll, and give them my personal “Rock On Sistah Friend!”

In the post on your blog, you must give the award away to 3 other Sistah’s who you think rock. Post links to their blogs, why they rock, and post the rules to the award. Also, let them know you’ve given them the award so they too can celebrate themselves and pass on the love.



Julie at The Best Times of Our Lives is a treasured friend that lived in WV when I did and she's an awesome photographer. We send e-mails back and forth all day long and we spend lots of time on the phone philosophizing over the worlds injustices, parenting and well just everything imaginable. We are faithful AT&T customers because if we didn't have free mobile to mobile we both have to stop being SAHMs because we'd have to get a job to pay our phone bills. Why our babies are napping of course ;)

Susan at Griffies Growth is a much missed friend from college and fellow minister's wife. She has two adorable twin babies which my family has an invested interest in because we prayed for those two little blessings for a couple of years. She's a great mom and has the kind of self-discipline that most mom's envy and I just love peaking in on her to see what she's doing with those little ones. Plus, watching two babies with such different personalities raised by the same parents is an interesting study on the nature/nurture subject.

Jay at Janie and Me, Happily is a former student we worked with in youth ministry but now, friend and fellow mommy. She is such a passionate person. She works hard, plays hard, loves hard, and falls hard. But she never stops pressing on. She is totally in love with her little girl and embarking on a new and exciting part of her life and I just love looking in on her to watch her embrace life even when it's coming at her at a rapid pace.

All three of these ladies are ladies that I love having in my life because my relationship with helps me to be a better person.
And I think I might just make up my own award because there are so many others here that I love in so many ways! But these three girls I know have had circumstances lately that they need to be honored for the classy way they handled them. Love you girls. Thanks for being my inspiration!

Meet Maggie

Here's another sweet little girl that's filling my days with smiles while Emma's at school. I have been babysitting Maggie for a couple of weeks now but I haven't posted anything about her because I kept forgetting to ask her mother if it was okay. I try to be careful not to post something about someones elses child without their permission. Anyway, my friend Mandy hooked me up with one of the teachers at Emma's school and I am watching her baby. It works out really nicely because it makes me only have school teacher hours. We won't have to worry about planning vacations around my job because we'd be planning them around Emma's school anyway.

Maggie is a sweet sweet baby and Chloe will have a nice little playmate in just a few months. Even though she's trying hard to get her up and moving now! And we're well on our way because she just started rolling over. Right now, I spend a lot of the days making sure Chloe doesn't kill her. But really she's doing well with her and they both seem to light up when they see each other. I have there naps staggered so they are only awake together about three hours a day and I still have two hours with both of them sleeping so that I can get some house work done. Maggie also indulges me and hams it up for the camera as you can see so I'm snapping away because I know that those days of her sitting still are limited!

To Emma, Love Mom- First Day of Kindergarten

Last night, I was preparing Emma's lunch for our big milestone today and as I was attempting to cut the most perfect heart out of a sandwich with a cookie cutter, I began to think about my friend Julie….

A little over two years ago, Julie had a baby prematurely. Jaden was born 8 weeks early. Julie just happened to be visiting her mother near Pittsburgh when she started having complications. She called and said that they were moving her from the small town hospital in her hometown to a larger one with a NICU in Pittsburgh and that there was a possibility that a cesarean would have to be performed. I called the next morning and she seemed quite dazed and she reported that a c-section had been done and she had become a mother of two, significantly earlier than they had anticipated.

I am so happy to tell you that Jaden is now a very active, thriving two year old. But during the first days and then weeks after he was born, as a friend, I felt helpless as I listened to Julie’s feelings of helplessness. First, I will say that I marveled at how well she held it together so that she could do all that she could to help Jaden. She was strong but there was stress, and tears… lots of tears. She couldn’t hold him, she couldn’t feed him, but she could pump milk to be fed to him through an IV. So she clung to the one thing that she could do. She pumped and she took milk to the hospital for many, many days.

Later, she told me that she wrote on the milk bags, "To Jaden, Love Mom". She explained to me that all though nurses were taking care of him and she couldn’t, she needed them to know that she was his mother…. 

Now I am not trying to equate something that most mothers do (taking their children to Kindergarten) with something as traumatic as having a baby prematurely. But, last night, as I was preparing to send Emma off to Kindergarten, I found myself desperately trying to find a way to let these people know that I was not only leaving a student with them, but that they were also going to be taking care of someone’s heart; my heart. At that moment, I became all too aware that this is the beginning of letting her go. I feel like in many ways, this is the day I have been preparing for since the day she was born. I have always known that the day was going to come where she would spend more of her waking hours with someone else than she does with me. I pray that we’ve packed enough love and guidance in.. I pray that somehow in the best understanding that a five year old can have, she understands how proud I am to be her mother, that God trusted me with her. And, as she goes out into the world, that she remembers that even more importantly than belonging to her daddy and me, she belongs to God.

So, I fashioned a heart out of sandwich, and stuck in our family picture with a note that said, “We love you” in her lunch box. I questioned if I was giving her enough to eat and listened to Adam laugh as he told me she had never eaten that much food in one day much less one meal. I ironed her dress and fixed her hair. I took the pictures and walked her to her class. I made sure she looked me in the eyes as I told her she was not to leave that afternoon with anyone but me. She quickly got busy with a project that the teacher had given her. And after one last picture, I gave her a kiss and turned and walked out the door into the next chapter of our life. Adam and I said all the things that parents say… That time has gone so quickly. That we will blink and be sending her off to college and then with her husband. And, I know that the only thing I can do is ask God to help us guide her and try desperately to cherish each moment along the way.

Please excuse the drama. This is a very traumatic time for me. I’m not even going to go into how frightening it is to me to think of when Chloe goes off to school (I know it sounds like I’m talking about sending my kids off to college, I’m still talking about Kindergarten here) and I don’t have a child at all during the day but I guess there’s no sense in agonizing over that until we get to that point. Post on that coming sooner than I want to believe….

So now that you’ve patiently indulged me and read about my near emotional breakdown, I’ll tell you how it went.

Emma did great. Last night, I was teasing her and pretend crying and told her that I couldn’t do it and I thought we should keep her home for another year. She reassured me by telling me that she was excited but would miss me and that it wasn’t like she would never have a day off. There was a brief moment in the car where she told me that she was excited but a little scared. But we got to the school and she sported the confidence that she has become quite famous for and barely even noticed when I left. When I picked her up, she informed me that her card was on white all day and explained that that was where it was good to be. She exclaimed that she loved Kindergarten and that she thought it was going to be a wonderful year..

And I thanked God that this is only traumatic because I’m by nature a basket case and not because any actual trauma occurred.

Blessings,

Dana

I've Been Tagged

It's a couple of weeks late but I finally got around to doing the Tag that my friend Lu challenged me with. Though random should be easy, these things are always difficult to me because I want to make sure I use this opportunity wisely. I know, so much thought makes things un-random... So here we go...

Six random things you may not know about me

1. I am a sheet snob. If you know me at all you know that I hardly buy anything new. I'm thrifty, frugal, cheap, however you define it. If you want to be friends with me, I'll be friends with you. I don't care how much money you have or what you look like. I'm more interested in loyalty, compassion, encouragement.. that sort of thing when it comes to friendship. I think it would be very difficult to call me a snob. Except when it comes to sheets. Over 400 thread count 100% Egyptian cotton. The only way to go...

2. I have the same birthday as my husband

3. I was the Alabama state champion in high jump my senior year in high school.

4. I usually have anxiety when I go into a crowd.

5. I used to have this thing for Kenny Rogers. But now he's tried to reinvent himself which I'm pretty sure involved some plastic surgery and I know involved a leather jacket. An old man trying to act like a young one... Totally unappealing. Dennis Quaid.. He's my new old hot guy. If you're the same age as Dennis Quaid, focus more on the hot part and less on the old part.

6. I always choose an older celebrity that I think is attractive. It's always one that is either graying or is gray. Adam is undoubtedly heading there but that way instead of feeling like he's geting old, he can feel like he's grown into my idea of hot. And it's true. I find gray haired men dignified and attractive. Maybe it's because my dad is gray. I mean I wouldn't call my dad hot but he's most definitely a handsome man.

Okay, there you have it. I would have to say that those were pretty random.

Now, the six people I tag..

1. Julie

2. Ashley

3. Stephanie

4. Becky

5. Sandi

6. Anna

Welcome Lainey Wynn Lowery

Lainey Wynn was born at around 12:30 a.m. on July 30. Since no one would send us a picture, we decided to go get some ourselves. If you were there visiting the Lowery family and didn't take the time to send all of us that live a little further away a picture, no worries, if my children look a little malnourished the next time you see them, it's because I spent our grocery budget making a trip over there. For those Ellis family friends that have been waiting on pictures, just remember who came through for you.

And without further delay, what you all have been waiting for... Our latest little beauty, weighing in at a whopping 8 lbs. 10 ounces and 21 inches






She became jaundiced and had to be under the bili lights. The last I heard they were going home this evening but that hasn't been confirmed. But us trying to see her while she was under the lights and our crazy trip that should have taken 4 and a half hours but instead took 8 to get home will make an interesting post once I get an internet connection but for now, my internet is down and I'm sitting front of the neighborhood park (which aparently has the internet) so I have to make this quick.

If you are trying to get up with me, try more conventional methods for the next day or so.

Blessings,
Dana

Vote For Chloe!

I entered a picture of Chloe in a photo contest. Click here to vote for her. They will send you a confirmation e-mail that you have to click on link to confirm. You DO NOT have to sign up for the adds. Just click the link and then wait for it to confirm your vote. You can vote once a day for the month of August.

Blessings

Walgreens Coupon

I have a coupon for $5 a $20 or more purchase at Walgreens for tomorrow (31st) only.

There might be a way to post it on here but I don't know how. But, if you want it, send me your e-mail address and I can forward it to you.

Blessings

Sugar and Spice....Eleven Months

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Trying again... I liked these a lot better. I thought these captured her personality really well. She is so much fun. Sorry there are so many, I had a hard time choosing.

I'm sure that someone is about to get on my case about there being more pictures of Chloe than Emma... I was going to do pictures of Emma today but she wanted to wear the same outfit Chloe did... Not so cute on a five year old. But really, Chloe is showcased on here because Emma is showcased in life. The kid definitely loves the spotlight. So, this is a case of the second child seeking justice for the second child. Making sure Chloe doesn't fade into the wallpaper.

Wonder what Aunt Denise will say about this one :).

Blessings,

Dana

Wynn is coming soon!

Just got off the phone with Jan (Adam's sister for those of you that don't know her) and they are inducing her in the morning. They are thinking she might be having a 9lb. baby! We made a trip to Alabama last week and we were hoping to get to meet our first niece then. But, our little Wynn has taken her time. Don't worry Wynn I was a little nervous about joining this family too! We did enjoy spending a few minutes with her and her husband Clint and hope we get to do more of that in the future!

Anyway, as you can tell in the pictures, her belly is as big as a pregnant belly gets. She was just a couple days shy of 40 weeks. It's a beautiful belly and she's being a trooper and letting me post these pictures. Don't worry, I got permission. I wish we had had more time and had found a more creative spot but the moment is at least documented. And we'll have more time next time because we won't be living so far away. So anyway, Emma and Chloe should have a new baby cousin by this time tomorrow. \

Please keep them in your prayers! I'll update soon.

Blessings,
Dana

My New Obsession

I started this post a week or two ago and got it done and then hit one button and erased half of it and then when I started re-typing it, it was highlighted in yellow. So, I got frustrated and am just now picking it back up..


Okay, My New OBSESSION!

Coupon Clipping--- I am so addicted to coupon clipping

In West Virginia, we had an Aldi's. Aldi's is awesome! milk is 1.99 a gallon, eggs are .99 a dozen. They have these huge and fabulous frozen pizzas for 3.29. A bag of salad is .79. The produce is super cheap and super fresh.. you can go to www.aldifoods.com and find the nearest one to you. Awesome deals in the whole store. Seriously, if you have an Aldis, thank God for the blessing and GO THERE! I was visiting my mom this weekend and I went to her Aldi's and bought four gallons of milk and froze them to bring back with me. Yes, I go through great extremes to save a few bucks. And we will eventually have an Aldi's here because I am going to e-mail them mercilessly until they put one here.

So off the rant about Aldi's and back on to coupon clipping. So since we don't have an Aldis (did I mention that Aldis is awesome?) I had to find a way to stay within our grocery budget. So, I started clipping coupons. And let me tell you, I have been getting stuff for FREE.. That's right FREE! And then I found out that there was this girl at church that clips coupons. Tiffany is the coupon queen! She is my coupon clipping idol. One day, my coupon binder will be as thick as Tiffany's and I will have reached couponer stardom. So, I've been listening intently to Tiffanies guidance and happening across all of these websites and I'm learning more and more! I've already checked out the deals for tomorrow and I'm going to get more free stuff.
...


So in case my enthusiasm hasn't convinced you yet.., I'm going to share with you some of the deals that I've gotten since I started this new hobby about a month ago.


Herbal Esscence Shampoo and Conditoner FREE
Crest Toothpaste FREE
CVS Tampons FREE
CVS Panty Liners FREE
Infusium detangler FREE
Secret Platinum deodorant FREE
And this week, I made .50 on Crest toothpaste. How awesome is that. Sure, I'll let you pay me to use your toothpaste. I'm like a celebrity getting free shoes. I feel so important.

And there have been so many other deals. I got a large bottle of Hunts ketchup today for 60 cents.. I got a $7.99 electric toothbrush for $.99 and a $7.99 razor for $.99. I got eight boxes of general mills cereal for right at a dollar a box.

This week I'm going to get free band-aids and I'll report my other deals later.

So if I've sparked your interest..

Here are a few things that I've learned so far... If you are an experienced couponer and are looking at me thinking that I'm an amateur... Please, tell me more.. I want to learn!!! Coupon hints can be left here!

Go to www.couponmom.com. There is a free book you can download that will explain lots of stuff. They also have listings of the deals at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS. They tell you what is on sale and what coupons to put with the sales to get it dirt cheap...
They also have a link to where you can get newspaper subscriptions at 75% off. I think I've already saved enough in one month to pay for my years subscriptions.
Also, www.iheartcvs.com and www.iheartriteaid.com are great websites too. CVS and Rite Aid seem to be the best places to get the freebies. And my friend Tangee e-mailed me with this cool site. www.ccherrypicker.blogspot.com. And, of course the one that I mentioned in the previous post was www.thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com

Kroger and Publix double coupons up to 50 cents.. Publix accepts competitors coupons
Store coupons and manufacturer coupons can be used together.

On Sunday mornings. I wake like a kid on Christmas morning and run out to get the paper then I spread it all out on the living room floor and study the thing like a text book and find out how much my paper is worth that day...

Just think how much I could save if I did coupons and had an Aldi's!

So please leave any thrifty hints you might have.. Coupons, energy savers, anything.. What do you do to save money? I'm all about stretching a dollar. Until next time, happy clipping!

Blessings,
Dana