Random Wednesday

Happy Wednesday Ya'll!

Hope you're ready for some randoms, because here's whats been on my mind this past week.

• After a VERY longggg work day yesterday, I came home with burning back pain like I had with my pregnancy with Ryder. Just when I thought I had escaped the back pain this pregnancy, it reared its ugly head! Thank goodness I have a good husband who offered to run my back once I got home! The only thing that got me through the day, was knowing that as of today, I only have..

work days LEFT! This past week, Dr G has been on vacation so it gave me a nice break to have the next 3 days off from work. I just have to get through the next two weeks and I will officially become a SAHM!

• Scot and I are making a vow to eat better, more organically grown and more natural foods starting this week when we go grocery shopping. We had been doing really well as far as this was concerned, up until a few months ago when we just got lazy, and started doing all of our grocery shopping at the local supermarket to save time. (and $$) I should be eating this way all along since I am 8 months pregnant, but sometimes you just get off track and have to get right back on! After Sunday night's fiasco, dealing with a very difficult toddler and a fair share of his tantrums, we realized Ryder needed to get off of his sugar induced buzz and get onto more natural foods ASAP! I definitely think there is a direct correlation to bad food and bad toddler behavior. I will say that the past two days have been MUCH better, thanks to a little prayer, punishment, and produce (and we did away with his sugary cereals, frozen pancakes, white rice, and junk food). I'm ashamed to admit that Ryder had even been eating those kinds of foods, and we are all making the change to get back into healthier eating habits!
• Speaking of more natural foods, I have been LOVING this Naked coconut water lately! In addition to the Naked drinks and smoothies I always have in the mornings, I have been drinking these to stay hydrated and to keep my thirst quenched. They are so good and refreshing, and apparantly a good source of potassium too! Who knew? I always forget to take a picture of them, so while I was at work yesterday, I took a quick picture while sitting at my desk. (Yes, I am the front receptionist you see as you first come into our dental office. It was a slow day so we didn't have any patients in the waiting room when I took this ha!)

photo courtesy of Paula Deen

• Also speaking of natural and organic, my friend and coworker sent me this article from Paula Deen's website on making your own baby food (yes even Paula Deen has marketed baby food!) but don't worry, it's not loaded with butter and mayonaise haha! I have always wanted to give baby food making a try, but was intimidated on where to begin. The article gave three simple, yummy recipes that I can't wait to test out on Brynley in a few months.

• Lists and coupons in hand, Scot and I headed out bright and early this morning to finish up all of our shopping. First we went to Office Depot (to use Scot's employee discount of course!) to get a magnetic dry erase calender for the fridge so I can help to stay organized each week, and a few other odds and ends while we were there. While we were getting Ryder's markers the other weekend, I didn't realize I had accidentally picked up a set of markers that weren't washable (I didn't even realize Crayola made non washable, and found out the hard way that they do in fact stain fingers. I didn't want to wait to see what would happen if it got on any clothes or furniture, so I made sure to add "washable markers" to the list. Next we drove to Charlotte, and had to run in Target to get birthday cards for all those near and dear to us, since we will be out of commission in the next few months. I never realized, but we have quite the list of family and friends with birthdays in September and October. While we were there, we checked out their toy chests and actually found one we really liked, similar to Ryder's but in pink. Before making any decisions, we wanted to check the ones at the baby stores too. Our purpose of going to Charlotte was BuyBuyBaby (have I mentioned 1,000 times how much I LOVE this store and wish we had one closer than South Charlotte?) to check out their toy chests and to stock up on their Aiden + Anais swaddle blankets. We realized that even though the monogram was a cute touch for the toy chest, it wasn't worth $170, and we were much better off getting the one we had seen at Target. I got to use my 20 % off coupon at buybuy baby, and then we were off to our next shopping stop!

• Yes this is what 8 months pregnant in the middle of one of the HOTTEST Augusts looks like. I have never had so many pregnancy comments and compliments as I did today, so maybe it was this tank top I wore. Seriously, at one point I thought the guy selling the Egyptian lotion in one of the kiosks at the mall was going to ask when I was due, but instead he asked if I wanted a sample ha!
• I was very happy with our finds. Stores we visited: Children's Place (long sleeved jammies for Ryder), Christian Bookstore (looking for Praise Baby DVD), Education Express (where I bought letter and number flash cards for Ryder), Stride Rite (we got Buy one Get one 50% sale- scored 2 cute pairs of shoes for Ryder to wear this Fall and Winter), Baby Depot at Burlington Coat (we scored ski bibs and a pink baby bunting outfit for both kids).. (and watch NOW we won't get snow!) Carter's (I scored a 4 pack long sleeved onesies for Brynley to make her onesie dresses next weekend), and a pretzel from Auntie Anne's for me to settle my pregnancy craving I was  jonesin' for! Scot kept me on a tight budget, and we did pretty well, considering the many distractions we saw (and wanted).
• Here is Brynley's pink toy chest. Not sure if we will keep it in this corner or not, but for now this will do. I still want a big girly stuffed animal to go on top, but Scot reminded me that was a want and not a need right now.. so I stuck to our list. These pregnancy wants are really bad, and just when I think I'm done, I will see or think of something else I want to get my little princess. Good thing God gave me a disciplined man when it comes to spending ha!

• Look what came in the mail that I had ordered from Zulily! It's a cute Christmas outfit from Mud Pie and it was only $10, so I couldn't resist. I still need to wash it and get the wrinkles out, but I just thought it was too cute to pass up! I do have a few things on etsy that I have been saving to order, but I am realizing that they will probably have to wait until after Brynley is born to order.

Here is the magnetic calender we got today at office depot. I was so excited to get started on my organizing that I went ahead and made a "mock" schedule of September, activities planned with Ryder, and coloring and craft ideas I have been thinking of doing with him. September is fastly approaching and I wanted to get a head start on easing into a routine with Ryder for when I start staying home with him. As ya'll all know my insecurities and worries I have expressed before, about staying home, I am open to any suggestions you other stay at home moms may have to offer! My main concern is that Ryder will get bored with me, and ask to go back to daycare with his teachers and friends. I'm hoping that this schedule will help us both to have fun and keep to a routine as we both adjust to life at home and with a newborn.

• Rather than watching tv, I have spent most of my time reading and catching up on all of my baby books. It's so funny how much more I read these the first time around, but I wanted to give the "Happiest baby on the Block" a try this time, rather than "Babywise". Parent directed feedings didn't go as well for us, with Ryder, so I am hoping and learning that the Baby directed feedings might go a little better, especially since I am going to be attempting breast feeding again, and hoping not to get as discouraged as I did with Ryder, which led to only pumping and bottle feeding. There are so many contradicting books and advice out there, and it can really make a new (and second time around) mom start to doubt! I am going to give the swaddle a go (hence the need for the Aiden + Anais swaddle blankets that I have heard such great things about). We can only pray and hope, and I will just try not to worry too much before Brynley gets here!
• I can't believe that it's already 4 in the afternoon! Where does the time go when having fun? Well Happy Wednesday and hope you enjoyed these randoms :)