A great investment!

So I don't know about you, but as a kid it is mandatory to have boardgames in your house. One of the most standard ones is Monopoly. There are tons of different types of monopoly now even a hello kitty one!
But lets be honest. Monopoly is kind of boring. We'd play for an hour and finally get so bored that we would just count the money and see who had the most and say that person was the winner.
My family never played it that often so I've still never really liked it.

Our good friends Aaron and Lychell brought over a new twist on monopoly called Monopoly Deal.
This is a card game and at first I was skeptical. I thought well it's still monopoly so I'm probably not going to like it. Little did I know though!

So I wanted to blog about them in case anyone is a fan of card games!

So there are 3 types of cards in the deck:
Money cards
Property Cards
Action cards

here is what the description says: Collect 3 complete property sets but beware of the Debt Collectors, Forced Deals and Deal Breakers.

Seems easy enough trying to collect 3 properties but of course it's not! It's random what you get dealt and from there you have to worry about other people stealing your property or bankrupting you.

There are different action cards that can either help or hurt you, depending on whose hands they are in. It involves a little stragety and a little luck.
We played a 4 person game and it normally takes maybe 15 minutes but there was one game where we hadn't played very long and Andy won really fast.

What I like about this game is of course every game is different depending on what hand you get and what you end up drawing.


I would love to talk more about it but trust me when I say if you are a fan of card games you will definitely like this game!

3 months!

On friday the 20th, Wilson turned officially 3 months old!

I can't believe he's already 1/4 of a year old! He already looks so much bigger and longer and well cuter of course!


As far as official measurements go we won't know for a while since his next appointment isn't until September for his 4 month check up. I am tempted to call and ask if I could come in and get him weighed and measured anyways though. It would be really quick so I don't know why they would say no.

Well on friday, Wilson had another milestone in which we heard him laugh for the first time! I was getting ready for work and andy was holding him and started giving him kisses on his cheeks.

We could tell he liked it, and I was still getting stuff together when Andy exclaimed "He's laughing! Baby, he's laughing!"

I grabbed the camera and we watched him smile and coo and laugh a little! He still learning it and I'm sure it will be a little longer before its a full on belly laugh but the fact that we could actually hear a chuckle and know that we were doing something that was making him that happy, well it was just amazing.

Another wonderful moment in our lives since Wilson entered it. Andy and I are constantly in awe of our little man and so thankful to have such a healthy perfect little boy.

Sleep!

It seemed that right before I went back to work, Wilson was still waking up in the middle of the night at his old feeding time between 3-4am. He wasn't hungry and not even waking up that upset but somehow or another he would wake himself back up.
We were having him fall asleep in his swing and when he was finally asleep move him to his crib. It always seemed as soon as we moved him in his crib he would wake himself up another hour or two later.

I didnt mind it so much because I would wake up go in his crib and snuggle with him in the twin bed that andy's parents brought over for my mom to sleep in when she visited. I of course loved to snuggle with him but at the same time it was interfering with my sleep. I like to snuggle with him but was paranoid about sleeping with him so close to me. So I slept very lightly and very aware of how I moved myself, which of course equals not really restful sleep. Before going back to work this was no big deal because I could just take a nap with Wilson whenever he took one and catch up on my zzzs.

Our swaddlme blankets had really been a lifesaver but at that point he was too long in them. We could still swaddle him in it but if he woke himself up he could easily kick himself loose. I ended up ordering a bigger swaddleme blanket thats supposed to be for 6-12 months.

So once I got the bigger one I started to swaddle him in it once he started showing signs of sleepiness. This is normally around 8pm we actually try hard to keep him up a little longer so feed him just a litte and then I will change him (which always seems to make him mad lol) let him hang out for a bit either watching his mobile or in his chair and then swaddle him and some nights he goes to sleep right away in it. Literally in like 2 minutes.. or sometimes it can take up to 10-15 minutes.

For almost 2 and a half weeks now he has been successfully sleeping through the night anywhere from 9-10pm and waking up at 7-8 am.

This is sooo wonderful for both Andy and I. Of course this means waking up earlier than I had been used to. Both Andy and I are nightowls thanks to our job shift but I always went to sleep earlier.

I'm learning now to either get some things done after he falls asleep or actually get to have some me time! Or well spouse time, just hanging out, getting to watch a movie or talk about how cute our baby is haha.

But I have found if I stay up too late I don't get enough sleep! So with that said! I am off to bed!

The Crockpot is my new BFF. Sorry Shawna!

So a week down at work. No, I haven't cried. Yes, I miss my baby. But work is work. I like most of my coworkers and my job so it was easy to come back to my job. I would much rather prefer to be a stay at home mom but for right now it's bearable.

Since coming back to work I have had to figure out my meal plan. Since we work all day the time we are most hungry is while we are at work. By the time we get home from work cooking a dinner is the last thing on both of our minds. Although lets be honest, Andy doesn't cook. Sandwiches yes, things that involve the use of the stove or oven, No.

Well thanks to my handy dandy crockpot I have solved the meal dilemma! I'm by means no gourmet cook but I know my way around the kitchen. So I prepared 3 different crockpot meals that I would throw in the morning and have ready by the time we get off work.

First up the week was some Heavenly Chicken with Rice. This was reallly creamy and delicious and very much a chicken and rice type meal. YUM! Recipe found here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jennies-Heavenly-Slow-Cooker-Chicken/Detail.aspx

I made this on Sunday evening so we would have some for Monday. Man it really was great!!

Next up I made your standard traditional pot roast. Once again a super easy to make meal that I threw in the crockpot and when it was ready to eat! MMMMM the meat and veggies sooo tender! Recipe here:http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Maries-Easy-Slow-Cooker-Pot-Roast/Detail.aspx

The last one I made was basically a version of Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie. This I took 2 different recipes and used different parts to make it.

First I slow cooked about 4-5 chicken breast and 1 can of cream of mushroom. I cooked this until it was nice and cooked and I then shredded the chicken.
Next I took a can of cream of chicken, and 1 package 16 0z of frozen vegetables and mixed them up together with the chicken. I then cooked this on high for about an hour and then turned it down to low.

Then I took a can of refridgerated biscuits and put on top of the mix and cooked on low until the biscuits are basically cooked.

Since they aren't cooked in the oven they don't get that golden look and for some people that's creepy so its optional to put the biscuits in the oven instead. But I wasn't about to dirty a cookie sheet for that.

I really liked this one a lot too! They were all flavorful and it was so easy getting the stuff ready.
No having to worry about what to eat for lunch and eating more homemade food rather than fast food! Plus leftovers!

I plan on changing it up every other week and am currently looking at different recipes to try out.

On another note, I cooked Andy some fried chicken and let's just say, I win that category hands down.

It feels really good to cook things for Andy and know that he not only appreciates them but also enjoys eating them! Hopefully my kids will think the same thing too when they get older.

First day back to work.

So my 12 weeks of maternity leave were up on Friday which was my first day back to work. I can't believe it already has flown by so fast! My baby is 2 and a half months old and growing like a weed and now I have to leave him to make money to afford having him!

Andy and I used to work the same exact schedule so we would commute together and when we only had 1 car it was basically a necessity. Now that I have my car and he has his we could be a little more flexible on when we could work.

Well I talked to my boss and he was willing to work with me somewhat about changing my schedule around. I have a really awesome boss. He's a great, nice, caring guy!

So Friday it wasn't as nerve wracking or as upsetting as I thought I would be. I think it's because I KNEW that there isn't any option. I HAVE to work, that and Andy's parents are going to be watching him so I'm a little at ease because we know, love, and trust them.

I'm more worried for when Wilson acts up because he can really let loose if he isn't happy about something. He is sooo paticular for a 2 month old! Everyone else who has babies are always telling me how easy their babies are and how they hardly ever cry, and I think to myself "Really?! Your baby never cries huh??" I must admit I'm 2 things: Jealous, and not believing it's true.

With Wilson being my first and never being around other babies, I just don't have the experience to say whether or not these parents are really telling the truth or not.

Anyways off topic, sounds like something else I need to blog about. The paint everything roses parents. Who doesn't get annoyed by them? :)

So I go to work earlier now than Andy so he drops him off and I pick him up. I'm so glad I didn't have to drop him off. I know I would've lingered to make sure everything was okay and it would've made me more upset.

Picking him up was so sweet though. I was sooo ready to see him and cuddle with him!
Much to my chagrin though as soon as I got him he was crabby and irritated. I think it had to do with a new schedule. Everything being just a little different for him and he didn't know how to process it.

Hopefully next week we can establish a better schedule for him and he can get more used to it.

I will be waiting for the day I can be a stay at home mom again. I hope it comes soon because I love it. There is nothing more precious than spending that time with your child and watching them grow and learn.

Thank you Craigslist!

Sooo I just blogged about which jumper I wanted to buy and I already found one to buy on craigslist. I snagged the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo.


After reading a lot of reviews this one seems like the best fit for us. I read that it folds up somewhat compact so that will be nice since we live in an apartment. Although it may be stored at grandma and grandpas house for a while until we are ready to make use of it.

I bought it off of craigslist for 35 bucks! Whoo hoo! Saved myself 50 dollars on it! And if baby Wilson likes it hopefully our future babies will like it as well!

Andy and I are going on saturday to pick it up! Also on Saturday is Ribfest which Andy's cousin is playing at. Hopefully it isn't too hot outside as we are planning on taking Wilson with us. I should probably check the weather about that so that he is dressed appropriately.

On a sad note I think I may have to go back to work tomorrow instead of friday! EEP! I'm waiting for a call from my boss to find out what hours they are going to have me work. I'll blog about that more perhaps tomorrow or Friday depending on when I go into work.

Next baby investment.

With Wilson becoming more active and wanting to explore more, I'm looking into buying a Jumperoo for him. I really think he will like it and once he figures out how to bounce in it will really like hanging out in it giving mommy a little break to be able to do other chores around the house.
So far right now I have 3 that I'm going back and forth between.
The Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo which looks like this: I like the head and back support on this one and the price is 83.43 right now. I've been reading the reviews and most people seem to really like this one.

Then there is this one that is slightly cheaper at 77.57 dollars


It is also a fisher price jumperoo and its more rounded which from the reviews makes it more stable I guess. It doesn't have as much as a head/neck support but it does look fun and colorful.


Then this is the other one I like the baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper


This one is 84.99 and it has the head/neck support and looks really fun too. It doesn't really have anything hanging over head though and I wonder if Wilson will even care about the side bars if he can't reach them.

I would buy one used but searching on craigslist right now most of these aren't for sale as they are newer models, which I would totally get as they are normally half the price. I still have 2 or less months before Wilson will really get full enjoyment out of it so I'm not too worried about it. Hopefully I can find one used or I will end up buying off amazon. I just have to decide which one I want!!

Does anyone have any experience with one? or opinions?