Holy crap. We qualified for a social program. School lunches.
I've never ever qualified for anything free or discounted. We always were over the limit in our salary, even when we were broke as hell. WIC? Nah-uh. Help with daycare? No way. Sliding scale for gymnastics? Nope. But with me being out of a job, it changes things a lot.
Don't get me wrong, my husband still makes decent salary. And we probably still don't qualify for anything I already mentioned. But for Ella's school lunches, they go off of what we made in the last 30 days. I got paid my severance pay on July 24th, so on August 25th, I put in the application. I was officially and truthfully able to checkmark "no income" next to my name.
Today we got the approval for FREE school lunch. Not even the 40 cent reduced lunch fee. We got it FREE. I'm beyond excited. I was paying $1.95/day or making her lunch. I was hoping we'd qualify for the 40 cent lunch. But free? Yay! Sure, it's not that huge of a deal, but saving $42.25/month adds up.
Of course, as soon as my unemployment kicks in, I'll have to call and adjust my income, but I'm going to use it until the very last moment!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
WhatEVER, pampers.
I have been sticking the point stickers from the packs of diapers and wipes to the back of the nursery door since Karl was born. I finally put them all in. And I don't even qualify yet for the $10 starbucks card (which, by the way, is temporarily unavailable).
Whatever pampers. Sure, I'm taking part in ruining the world by using disposables and allowing them to profit from it, but damn it, doesn't 7 months worth of diapers and wipes earn me at least 2 cups of freaking coffee?
I said I would try cloth diapers. It's time for me to do that. AND, I need to start making my own wipes. I gotta find my recipe for that again. Take THAT, pampers.
Whatever pampers. Sure, I'm taking part in ruining the world by using disposables and allowing them to profit from it, but damn it, doesn't 7 months worth of diapers and wipes earn me at least 2 cups of freaking coffee?
I said I would try cloth diapers. It's time for me to do that. AND, I need to start making my own wipes. I gotta find my recipe for that again. Take THAT, pampers.
don't you turn my brown eyes blue
I know that song lyric is about making someone with brown eyes sad, but I couldn't think of any other lyric about blue eyes.
Anywho, this picture shows why unconditional love rules. He's got no idea I did those things in the last post!
Anywho, this picture shows why unconditional love rules. He's got no idea I did those things in the last post!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Mother of the Year!!
I shouldn't even admit to this, but what a week I have had.
1. Yesterday I dropped Karl in the bathtub. He sits in his little bathseat to play, but to clean his underside, I pick him up, hold him across his chest in my left arm as I use my right hand to clean. Well, he got a hold of a barbie that was on the bottom shelf of a 4 shelved shower caddy I have in there. He was pulling her so hard, but her arm was stuck and he was about to bring the entire thing down, 100 bottles and whatnot, on top of us. I figure letting him go with my right hand would be better than the entire thing falling on us. So I let go, grab for the barbie and ~slip~. He slips out of my hands, conks his head on the side of the tub and goes underwater. It wasn't as bad as it sounds, his knees were on the bottom when I was holding him, so it's more like he just slipped to the side, but yeah, that's what happened. He only cried for 20 seconds thank goodness.
2. Today, he takes a dive off my bed. UGH. I swear, I have no idea how this fucking happens. EACH of my children have fallen off my bed. He was sitting there, just fine, I'm cleaning up Allie's foot which had a cut on it, and he just LAUNCHES himself forward, center of balance transfers to top of his body and he falls to the ground on his face. This time he falls pretty hard and he cried for a good 5 minutes. I felt terrible. We have new carpet and I got the added bonus thick carpet pad, so that was our saving grace. He's okay but I'm a little shaken. I've had to do with dropping my baby twice in two days. I rule.
3. Tonight, Ella was climbing up her ladder into the top bunk, slips a bit, catches herself and says "Jesus Christ!" out of exasperation. My husband says "ELLA! Where did you hear that??" to her little innocent voice "You, daddy". OMG. I had to walk out to not burst out laughing. It's not funny really, but I was more shocked. I curse like a sailor, but that one was all daddy. I had to throw in something that wasn't all my fault after the first two!
1. Yesterday I dropped Karl in the bathtub. He sits in his little bathseat to play, but to clean his underside, I pick him up, hold him across his chest in my left arm as I use my right hand to clean. Well, he got a hold of a barbie that was on the bottom shelf of a 4 shelved shower caddy I have in there. He was pulling her so hard, but her arm was stuck and he was about to bring the entire thing down, 100 bottles and whatnot, on top of us. I figure letting him go with my right hand would be better than the entire thing falling on us. So I let go, grab for the barbie and ~slip~. He slips out of my hands, conks his head on the side of the tub and goes underwater. It wasn't as bad as it sounds, his knees were on the bottom when I was holding him, so it's more like he just slipped to the side, but yeah, that's what happened. He only cried for 20 seconds thank goodness.
2. Today, he takes a dive off my bed. UGH. I swear, I have no idea how this fucking happens. EACH of my children have fallen off my bed. He was sitting there, just fine, I'm cleaning up Allie's foot which had a cut on it, and he just LAUNCHES himself forward, center of balance transfers to top of his body and he falls to the ground on his face. This time he falls pretty hard and he cried for a good 5 minutes. I felt terrible. We have new carpet and I got the added bonus thick carpet pad, so that was our saving grace. He's okay but I'm a little shaken. I've had to do with dropping my baby twice in two days. I rule.
3. Tonight, Ella was climbing up her ladder into the top bunk, slips a bit, catches herself and says "Jesus Christ!" out of exasperation. My husband says "ELLA! Where did you hear that??" to her little innocent voice "You, daddy". OMG. I had to walk out to not burst out laughing. It's not funny really, but I was more shocked. I curse like a sailor, but that one was all daddy. I had to throw in something that wasn't all my fault after the first two!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Suck it!
Karl would ~not~ nurse today. At all. So weird and it's left me all, ahem, full. I'm about to bust out my pump.
I wonder if I ate something he didn't like yesterday or something. Let's see. I had: oatmeal for breakfast; ham and cheese sandwich, baked doritos and string cheese for lunch; chicken breast, green beans and pasta for dinner.
do you say dinner or supper?
I don't like when he refuses to nurse. Funny, my girls were so much more boobie babies than my son is. I wonder why. He better be back on the boat in the morning though. We've got at least 4 1/2 months left of breastfeeding!
I wonder if I ate something he didn't like yesterday or something. Let's see. I had: oatmeal for breakfast; ham and cheese sandwich, baked doritos and string cheese for lunch; chicken breast, green beans and pasta for dinner.
do you say dinner or supper?
I don't like when he refuses to nurse. Funny, my girls were so much more boobie babies than my son is. I wonder why. He better be back on the boat in the morning though. We've got at least 4 1/2 months left of breastfeeding!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Negative.
Negative on the Rotovirus test. He's still going, but it's tapering off.
Karl had his first "real" puking session today. He has spit up plenty of times, but I was parking my car and heard it. It was terrible.
I jump out of my car and ran around to open his door because of how horrible it sounded and saw poor little Karl sitting there. He was ~so~ scared. His eyes were red, milk coming out of his nose and absolutely COVERED. It sprayed the back of the seat and the entire door. I picked him up and he was soaked. There was a puddle of milk underneath him. I pulled out the carseat to dump it out and there was a huge puddle underneath the seat! I don't even know how that happened.
Poor baby. I feel so bad when little babies/kids puke because they have no idea what's happening. Imagine how scary it would be.
He is doing better now. Took a short nap and now he's bouncing in his excersaucer. He is a little cranky today, but damn, I would be too.
Karl had his first "real" puking session today. He has spit up plenty of times, but I was parking my car and heard it. It was terrible.
I jump out of my car and ran around to open his door because of how horrible it sounded and saw poor little Karl sitting there. He was ~so~ scared. His eyes were red, milk coming out of his nose and absolutely COVERED. It sprayed the back of the seat and the entire door. I picked him up and he was soaked. There was a puddle of milk underneath him. I pulled out the carseat to dump it out and there was a huge puddle underneath the seat! I don't even know how that happened.
Poor baby. I feel so bad when little babies/kids puke because they have no idea what's happening. Imagine how scary it would be.
He is doing better now. Took a short nap and now he's bouncing in his excersaucer. He is a little cranky today, but damn, I would be too.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Holy crap. Literally.
Baby + diarrhea = suckdom.
I'm literally changing a diaper every 15-20 minutes. (and no, it's not a lot, but I'm trying to keep him poor bum dry as I can, so the moment any, um, arrives, I change and lather him with cream.)
It's horrible in the stench department too. I remember there is some virus that causes it, but I don't really think that's it, since he's perfectly fine in every other way. But then again, he is my angel of a baby, so maybe he's just this well natured. (remember, I didn't know he had a double ear infection either!)
I'll have him checked out tomorrow at the pedi appointment for Miss Allison, which today, by the way, is her 4th BIRTHDAY! Yay! Happy Birthday. Sorry your birthday announcement was preceded about your brother's butt issues.
I'm so bloody tired.
I'm literally changing a diaper every 15-20 minutes. (and no, it's not a lot, but I'm trying to keep him poor bum dry as I can, so the moment any, um, arrives, I change and lather him with cream.)
It's horrible in the stench department too. I remember there is some virus that causes it, but I don't really think that's it, since he's perfectly fine in every other way. But then again, he is my angel of a baby, so maybe he's just this well natured. (remember, I didn't know he had a double ear infection either!)
I'll have him checked out tomorrow at the pedi appointment for Miss Allison, which today, by the way, is her 4th BIRTHDAY! Yay! Happy Birthday. Sorry your birthday announcement was preceded about your brother's butt issues.
I'm so bloody tired.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Did I say 14 pounds?
Jeez.
Karl weighs 17.5 lbs based on the kitchen scale (our bathrooms are way to small to keep a scale in there!). I don't know why I said 14 lbs the other day. I think I meant 17, as he was 16 lbs at his 6 month appointment.
Anywho, since I use this blog for my own record keeping, I needed to adjust it.
He's beginning to move himself places whilst on his belly. Just this inchworm kinda kicking movement, but he's getting himself places (within inches) when he sees something he wants (especially paper. Oh, how he loves paper.)
Ella's teacher has already had to talk to be about Ella's behavior in kindergarten. Yes. On the 3rd and 4th days of school. Apparently she gets up out of her seat all the time and likes to untie her shoelaces enough to where it becomes a distraction. Oh boy. I've got my work cut out for me.
Karl weighs 17.5 lbs based on the kitchen scale (our bathrooms are way to small to keep a scale in there!). I don't know why I said 14 lbs the other day. I think I meant 17, as he was 16 lbs at his 6 month appointment.
Anywho, since I use this blog for my own record keeping, I needed to adjust it.
He's beginning to move himself places whilst on his belly. Just this inchworm kinda kicking movement, but he's getting himself places (within inches) when he sees something he wants (especially paper. Oh, how he loves paper.)
Ella's teacher has already had to talk to be about Ella's behavior in kindergarten. Yes. On the 3rd and 4th days of school. Apparently she gets up out of her seat all the time and likes to untie her shoelaces enough to where it becomes a distraction. Oh boy. I've got my work cut out for me.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Baby clothes advice from an experienced mommy (and compulsive shopper)
Miss JamieD asked me where I get my clothes for Karl. She mentioned she likes the high quality of baby gap and gymboree, but also wanted some advice where to get some original stuff.
I started to just answer her in a comment, but I thought this may be one of those helpful hint type answers, so I thoughts I'd just do a quick post about it.
First, to answer questions about "original" stuff. My favorite sites to get stuff for my kids are
~ BabyWit
~ Little Showoffs
~ Baby Rock Apparel
Second, I wanted to mention the aspect of the "high quality" of clothes and what you want to spend your money on.
It's true baby gap and gymboree have high quality. But it's also expensive, even on sale. In your baby's first 18~ish months, especially in the first 12, you go through clothes so quickly. Your baby grows so fast and clothes can only be worn for a few months. During this time, don't worry too much about "durability" as long as you buy things with nice and soft materials that are washable. Baby gap and gymboree fit the bill here of course, but not necessary. Places like old navy (the gap's little sister) are perfect. Soft clothes but much less expensive.
Having girls a little over a year apart, I have seen Ella destroy clothes and I have also seen clothes I can still give away / sell after two girls going through them. Toddlerhood is when you want to go for durability, especially if you are planning to have more kids or if you already know those clothes will be handed down.
My advice is:
A) go with materials. If it's soft to the touch, mostly cotton, you'll be fine. But if you buy much of the shit walmart and babiesRus sell (seriously, ~touch~ their clothes - it all is filled with nylons!), you are going to have 1) a baby whom is uncomfortable and 2) clothes that suck.
B) don't buy spendy things for anything smaller than 18-24 months. I learned the hard way and I have container after container full of clothes I totally wasted my money on. Sure, the people I give them to benefit, but I could have gotten away with spending ~thousands~ less. Invest in your toddler's clothes, but believe me, babies don't need "durable". They just need soft!
Anyone else have quick hints when it comes to baby clothes? Any cool places you like to go to?
I started to just answer her in a comment, but I thought this may be one of those helpful hint type answers, so I thoughts I'd just do a quick post about it.
First, to answer questions about "original" stuff. My favorite sites to get stuff for my kids are
~ BabyWit
~ Little Showoffs
~ Baby Rock Apparel
Second, I wanted to mention the aspect of the "high quality" of clothes and what you want to spend your money on.
It's true baby gap and gymboree have high quality. But it's also expensive, even on sale. In your baby's first 18~ish months, especially in the first 12, you go through clothes so quickly. Your baby grows so fast and clothes can only be worn for a few months. During this time, don't worry too much about "durability" as long as you buy things with nice and soft materials that are washable. Baby gap and gymboree fit the bill here of course, but not necessary. Places like old navy (the gap's little sister) are perfect. Soft clothes but much less expensive.
Having girls a little over a year apart, I have seen Ella destroy clothes and I have also seen clothes I can still give away / sell after two girls going through them. Toddlerhood is when you want to go for durability, especially if you are planning to have more kids or if you already know those clothes will be handed down.
My advice is:
A) go with materials. If it's soft to the touch, mostly cotton, you'll be fine. But if you buy much of the shit walmart and babiesRus sell (seriously, ~touch~ their clothes - it all is filled with nylons!), you are going to have 1) a baby whom is uncomfortable and 2) clothes that suck.
B) don't buy spendy things for anything smaller than 18-24 months. I learned the hard way and I have container after container full of clothes I totally wasted my money on. Sure, the people I give them to benefit, but I could have gotten away with spending ~thousands~ less. Invest in your toddler's clothes, but believe me, babies don't need "durable". They just need soft!
Anyone else have quick hints when it comes to baby clothes? Any cool places you like to go to?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
"We just sat on the floor and listened to our Prisoner"
Ella started Kindergarten yesterday. Wow. School. Real school. 8am-3:30pm. SCHOOL. When she got home, she talked nonstop about it. When she mentioned she went to the gym and I asked her what she did there, that's where I got the phrase in the title. I guess "principal" is a new word for her!
Here is a picture of her before we left ...
Can you tell she's my child? Never in a million years would you know that, eh?
Here is her waiting for class to start ...
Allie is staying home with me without her sister. It's going to be fun watching her develop her own little personality sans Ella. We haven't gotten anything going on yet, but lots of things are in the works. Today, even though boring, she was quite happy (although undone) ...
Karl is SEVEN months old now! Yay! He's still not doing much in the case of physical milestones, but that's a-okay with me. I figure it's due to me not putting him on his belly for tummy time, but I never did that with the girls and I think they both were crawling by seven months. ~Shrug~. Of course I WANT him to be achieving things in leaps and bounds, but what can you do? I still love my funny little man. He ~loves~ his bouncy saucer thing-a-majig. I barely can get him to stop moving to take a quick picture ...
He's about 14 lbs now I'm assuming. I should do the official "bathroom scale method" and check on my estimations. And here is a picture of the back of his head. I don't know what it is, but I freaking LOVE the view of him while he's sitting on my lap. The back of my kids' giant noggins just make me smile. Maybe it's because they are bald. Maybe it's because their heads are huge. I don't know. But I freaking LOVE it. (please ignore the subway wrappers. I was hungry!) ...
Heh. Maybe it's something just their own mother could love!
Here is a picture of her before we left ...
Can you tell she's my child? Never in a million years would you know that, eh?
Here is her waiting for class to start ...
Allie is staying home with me without her sister. It's going to be fun watching her develop her own little personality sans Ella. We haven't gotten anything going on yet, but lots of things are in the works. Today, even though boring, she was quite happy (although undone) ...
Karl is SEVEN months old now! Yay! He's still not doing much in the case of physical milestones, but that's a-okay with me. I figure it's due to me not putting him on his belly for tummy time, but I never did that with the girls and I think they both were crawling by seven months. ~Shrug~. Of course I WANT him to be achieving things in leaps and bounds, but what can you do? I still love my funny little man. He ~loves~ his bouncy saucer thing-a-majig. I barely can get him to stop moving to take a quick picture ...
He's about 14 lbs now I'm assuming. I should do the official "bathroom scale method" and check on my estimations. And here is a picture of the back of his head. I don't know what it is, but I freaking LOVE the view of him while he's sitting on my lap. The back of my kids' giant noggins just make me smile. Maybe it's because they are bald. Maybe it's because their heads are huge. I don't know. But I freaking LOVE it. (please ignore the subway wrappers. I was hungry!) ...
Heh. Maybe it's something just their own mother could love!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
What's the "worst" duty?
For those of you who are already mommies, what have you found to be the worst duty?
Diapers? A breeze. I can clean a blowout with my eyes closed.
Breast feeding? Pahlease.
Baths? Easy peezy.
You know what I hate? (okay, hate is a pretty tough word, but you get my drift hopefully).
Spoonfeeding.
Hell, any kind of hand feeding. Spoonfeeding is just where it starts. Then you gotta chop up their foods, clean up, etc, etc, etc.
And you can't just skip a meal now, can you?
Diapers? A breeze. I can clean a blowout with my eyes closed.
Breast feeding? Pahlease.
Baths? Easy peezy.
You know what I hate? (okay, hate is a pretty tough word, but you get my drift hopefully).
Spoonfeeding.
Hell, any kind of hand feeding. Spoonfeeding is just where it starts. Then you gotta chop up their foods, clean up, etc, etc, etc.
And you can't just skip a meal now, can you?
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