Grateful Friday

One of my favorite blogs is Artsy-Crafty Babe. She sews really adorable stuff for her etsy shop and on has "gratitude Fridays." I thought it was such a wonderful way to wrap up ones week and put it into perspective. Thus on my "Grateful Friday..."
I am grateful for:
-Some truly delicious summer moments alone with Mia this week clapping our hands, dancing to Backyardigans theme song, and falling on the floor and laughing (Oh if I can remember this moment forever!)
-Getting to eat non-clear food! Yay!
-Having a sweet hubby who gave me my anniversary present early so that I could craft while sick
-Getting my office finally organized
-Chatting with good girlfriends on the phone
-Reality TV to be there for me when I'm sick! (My TiVo was so considerate of me during my sickness and recorded all my shows plus new ones it thought I might like...they were all ready and waiting on me when I literally couldn't get out of bed.)
-Fabulous finds at Target (including $1.50 placemats that I converted into small on-the-go diaper or travel caddies for future gifts!)
Diaper case idea and how-to at Unnecessary Necessities

The Weekend

What a last few days it has been. To start off with, on Wednesday I finally broke down and went to the doctor after 5 weeks of being sick. I had previously thought I had some horrid virus, but after 5 weeks, I knew it must be something else. So I went to the doctor here in Norman who diagnosed me with 3 ulcers but did not want to give me any medication. He asked, are you stressed? I told him, I am a Ph.D student, with an 18 month old, I am about to take a language proficiency exam, and my Comprehensive exams in October. If I fail them, I have to start all over...yes, I am stressed. So I call my parents, who recommend that I go to a stomach specialist back in Tx. Mom calls them and gets me an appointment for Friday morning. So I drop off Miss Mia, drive over 2.5 hours to Texas, see the specialist. He tells me that I do not have 3 ulcers...whew (I thought)...I have 5 with 60% stomach damage!! He says that I most definitely need some medicine. I also find out that my T-5 and T-6 vertebrae are out of whack. What vertebrae send the nerves to the stomach? 5&6! He asks me if I have had an acidic stomach for awhile. I tell him, almost my entire life! So he gives me medicine, I drive back to Oklahoma, pick up Miss Mia..and then crash.

Saturday, I woke up for the first day in weeks and was not sick! So hubby suggested we hit the lake, which we haven't been it since before Mia was born. When I was pregnant, we went to Lake Murray almost every weekend. I was 8 months pregnant and still kayaking! Mia has yet to be on the water, so we drove down and rented a canoe so we could all be together. Lake Murray is so beautiful, clear enough to see fish swimming below and to collect shells. It also has a great beach and place to swim.
Miss Mia LOVED the water! She was so good. She sat in the bottom of the canoe almost by herself and loved it. We paddled into a few coves, sat in the shade, and Mia put her feet or hands in the water. After canoeing and a small bite of lunch, we took Mia to the beach to play with her new shovel and buckets and swim. She loved it! She sat in the sand for over 2 hours and didn't say a word. She played and dug with me while hubby found beautiful rocks.
Miss Mia slept the entire way home, woke up for supper, and then went back to sleep until 8:30 the next morning! What a weekend!

Introducing Dakota

My sweet West Texas parents wanted us to name our first child, whether boy or girl Dakota...b/c they're my sweet West Texas parents. When I told them I wouldn't honor those wishes, they've been finding all sorts of ways to put a Dakota in the family. My dad is really good at wood working, and I've been bugging him to make Miss Mia something special. He came up with her a rocking horse...this ridiculously cute rocking horse..named, of course, Dakota! Dakota is a little big for Miss Mia to climb onto by herself, but she loves putting her babies on and making them go "weee!"

Good Deals This Week

Hit Homeland this morning with Miss Mia to get a few good deals. I got the above for less than a quarter!
Here's how I did it:
Suave Shampoo & Conditioner: On Sale for $1 each, used $1 off 2 coupon (doubled to $2=Free for both)
Jell-O Sugar Free Gelatin: On Sale for 70 cents each, used $1 off 3 coupon (doubled to $2= 10 cents for all 3)
Kotex: On Sale for 2.50 each, used 3 $1 off coupons (doubled to $2= 1.50 for all 3)
Kraft BBQ Sauce: On Sale for $1, used $1 off coupon (doubled to $2= $1 overage)


1.60 total
-1.00 overage
-.45 cents for bringing own shopping bags

=.15 cents for the entire shopping spree!

Feeling Crafty

Now that my papers are turned in, and all I have left is grading, I've been feeling crafty. I have been anxious to try to make Miss Mia some hair clips. So I went on ebay and got a huge stash of metal clasps for $3! Now I'm using up fabric, checking out other designs I want to put on them, and going through my craft boxes for felt and other materials to add to the buttons. Miss Mia loves them. She's been putting them in her baby dolls hair. Evidently, to an 18 month old the clips are "pretty girls!" You think she's heard this before?

Happy Mother's Day

In November of 2007 Miss Mia was born as was a mother. This year marks my second Mother's Day. In ways I still can't believe she is here. Yet I can barely remember life without here. These are two of my favorite pictures of Miss Mia. The first is from our first photo shoot together. The shot was actually not staged, she just reached up for my hand and the photographer grabbed it! The second picture is during Christmas vacation and my hubby took the picture of the two of us napping.

In honor of Mother's Day, I began to think of what are the best aspects of being of Mom:
1) I can buy really cute clothes without feeling guilty b/c they aren't for me!
2) I get to sing the Hokey Pokey, read Dr. Suess, finger paint, write with side walk chalk and am found awesome and hilarious in my daughter's eyes.
3) I gaze upon one of God's most beautiful creations everyday when I look at my little girl!
4) At this stage in life, Mommy can do no wrong, unless M&Ms are denied!
5) I appreciate and adore my own mother so much more given that we now have something so amazing in common!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's...and a Special Happy Mother's Day to my Mom & Miss Mia's Nana!! We Love You!

Belle & Boo

I have found a new love, Belle & Boo. I first came across their illustrations whilst browsing on Etsy. The illustrators are from London and have so many beautiful pictures. I absolutely love all of their work and am planning on purchasing some of the prints/cards for Miss Mia's room.

On their blog, they have a free print to download. I am planning on printing it out later today! I love free stuff! Go here to get the free download and other free illustrations as well!