Bargain Hunting

It's been quite a while since I was able to take advantage of some great deals at C.V.S., but this week's circular showed several items I was interested in.  I managed to come home with a lot of loot for not a lot of money. 

This is EVERYTHING I bought.  I paid $34.97 out of pocket total for it.  Sure, I'm not one of those extreme couponers who gets bent out of shape if she has to pay more than $1 for a cartload of stuff, but I was happy with my purchases. 

P.S.  That gray thing at the bottom of the picture is my belly sneaking into view as I stood over the coffee table to make this shot.

Here's how I did it:

Transaction #1:

Sale price: $4.99

Coupon: $1.00 off (only had one)

Total spent (tax included): $9.30

ExtraCare Bucks back: $8 + $1 (for using my green bag tag 4 times)

Transaction #2:

Diapers sale price: 2/$20 (36 in each pack)

Desitin/Nursing Pads sale price: 2/$11

(4 oz. Desitin, 60 ct. pads)

Coupons: $2 off one pack of diapers; $1 off the other

Total spent: $31 + tax - coupons - ExtraCare Bucks from 1st transaction = $20.80

ExtraCare Bucks earned: $10

  

Transaction #3:

Wipes sale price: $6 (pack of 216)

Coupon: $0.50 off

Schick Intuition shave cartridges (4 pack) sale price: $9.99

coupon: $2 off

Total Spent: $15.99 + tax - coupons - ExtraCare Bucks from 2nd transaction = $4.45

ExtraCare Bucks earned: $4

Transaction #4:

Pantene Sale Price: 2/$6.97

Coupon: $3 off 2

Total Spent: $6.97 + tax - coupon - ExtraCare Bucks from 3rd transaction = $0.42.

So, they won't make any television shows about me, but I was happy with how things turned out!

Nursery Pics

After our shower a couple of weeks ago, I spent the better part of my free time that week putting things away and trying to finish the nursery.  It's not completely finished yet, but I think all we need to do is put a few more decorations on the walls.  For the most part, it is ready and waiting to be occupied!  Here are a few pics I snapped of our furniture after getting the bedding in place.

The bouncer won't stay there, but it keeps it out of the way in the rest of the house until there is a baby in it!

Curtains!  I couldn't get a very good picture of them before.  Chair has been partially cropped because our little peanut's name is monogrammed on the blanket over the back of it. 

Crib...with bedding.

Inside of crib--disregard the doll.  That's our pretend baby that we're trying to get Jax used to.

Is it normal to cry...

...when writing baby shower thank you cards?  Cause I did.  Lots.  I spent the better part of yesterday morning working on the cards.  I think my OCD kicked in, because my "system" sure seemed odd to me, but it worked.  First, I put return address labels on all of the cards I needed (I actually started that a couple of days ago when I counted cards to see if I needed more).  Then, I put address labels on them for the recipients.  In the order that I opened their gifts (in my head, it makes it easier to make sure I don't miss someone).  Then, I FINALLY started writing the cards.  I was six cards in and using tears to seal the envelopes (okay, not really, but if there was an easy way to do it, I could have).  Is that normal?  Probably not.  I guess I just didn't ever expect to be writing them.  And there I was--writing baby shower thank you cards while doing baby laundry.  So surreal.

Speaking of baby laundry...it took me over an hour to cut all of the little plastic tag holders off of just the newborn and 0-3 month sized clothes!  Come on people! 

Here we are at 31 weeks.  I think it makes J nervous (because I was born at 31 weeks).  I am mostly packed--complete with the birth certificate form filled out (except for J's information) and a copy of my insurance card.  The other night he said we needed to have somebody on standby in case I went into labor while he's at work and my mom wasn't home to take me to the hospital.  I told him I thought we would be just fine.  He doesn't think I'll be starting school.  I do.  I guess we shall see.

Hugs and love, 

We're in the 4th quarter!

That's what Dr. G said when he came in for our 30 week appointment yesterday.  Although, since baseball is our sport of choice around here, perhaps we should just say we're in the bottom of the 7th?

All is well.  Heart rate was 152.  I'd gained 0.2 pounds in the past 2 weeks (doc didn't even count it). Blood pressure was great.  I don't go back for 3 weeks (doc will be out of town in 2 weeks, so he said that since things were going so well, he'd just see me in 3).  Two more appointments until we're going every week.  Yikes! 

No new pictures.  I'm working on laundry right now.  I'll try to post some pics of the nursery when I get the bedding all in place.

Happy Friday, all!

Hugs and love,

Whew! What a weekend! (plus u/s pics)

On Friday, we hit 29 weeks.  Wow.  Nearly 3/4 of the way there.  To "commemorate" this occasion, I completely wore myself out over the weekend.  I played piano for a wedding on Saturday, so I had rehearsal on Friday night (shortest wedding rehearsal I have EVER been to).  When I got home, we went for a walk (2 whole miles, this time).

We did some house cleaning on Saturday morning before the wedding, then went for dinner with my parents and brother after the reception.  Because my mom and I both had a 30% off coupon at K.o.h.l.'s, we stopped by there for some Christmas shopping (yes, I said Christmas shopping) before heading to the grocery store. 

On Sunday morning, I was tired.  My body ached, but I had to hope right up and find some energy.  After Sunday School, J and I got a bit of lunch before it was time for our baby shower.  I can't believe we were ready for that.  I hate being the center of attention (other than when I'm on stage...ya, know, pretending to be somebody else), but we felt very blessed that so many people came to celebrate with us.  J came home and put almost everything together.  I did my first load of baby laundry (just blankets and washcloths and such).  Jax was NOT happy about all those new toys he saw come into the house that he couldn't play with.

And now, for those of you who either made it through the sometimes boring details of my busy, busy weekend or skipped it altogether so you could get to this part, here a few of those pics from our last u/s.  Next appointment is Thursday.  I'll try to update (if there's anything to report).

Little peanut was facing us.  Sorry the picture is crooked.

This one has a pretty good profile.  His hand is resting on his belly.  He had just kicked me.  It was pretty weird to see and feel it at the same time.

This one might be my favorite--our sweet little guy is sucking his thumb. 

28 Weeks!

Thanks so much for the advice on what to add to my registry (or not)!  Some of your suggestions were already on there, some were on my list of things to add, and I REALLY appreciated the advice from all of you.

We hit the 28 week mark on Friday.  I had my appointment on Thursday.  All looks good.  I had gained a pound (11 total), which isn't bad since we'd been on vacation for a week.  We got to see our li'l peanut again since we had a growth scan.  His estimated weight is 2 pounds 11 ounces, which puts him in the 53rd percentile.  Dr. G said that's right where he should be--not too small, and not too large.  (I was glad to hear that.  ;-)  He almost weighs as much as I did when I was born. (I was born at 31 weeks and weighed 3 lbs. 2 1/2 oz.)

I will try to scan a couple of the pics from the ultrasound soon.  There are some really cute ones of him sucking his thumb (or at least, his hand was headed in the direction).

Hugs and love,