New Carseat!!

If any of you caught this post..you know I was on the look for a new car seat for Makayla. Well..after reading COUNTLESS reviews online, asking some moms online their opinions, and making mental notes..we purchased her new seat on saturday!!

Its made by Safety 1st and I really like it and so does she!

Now to hear the funny story that goes along with her new seat.  We bought it at Babies R Us and traded in her old infant carrier for this model and got the 25% off (great thing to do moms..if your in need of a new seat).  Well..of course that meant this one had to be installed before we left the parking lot.  So..it was rainy and windy and COLD.  Makayla was hungry.  So I had her up front with me while Damon 'attempted' to install the seat.  I fed her..played with her..did a bunch of things..all while hearing Damon back there scratching his head and trying to figure how to install the seat.  After about an HOUR (yes..an hour!!!)..I finally said, "Do you want me to try?" and he reluctantly agreed.  After 5 MINUTES (yes..I said minutes!!)..I had it installed and said, "Check to make sure I got the latch belt tight enough..if it is we're ready to go".  He didn't know what to say and was totally beside himself.

Why is it if you want something done right..you have to do it yourself?

He had the latch belt in the wrong holes (he had it going through the forward facing holes instead of the rear facing) AND was trying to use the seatbelt at the same time.  ????

If that wasn't funny enough..he made the funniest comment about the whole situation after we were on the road again.  If any of you know Damon personally or have heard me talk about some things he says in the past..you know he comes up with some really crazy one-liners.  This is what he said..and I quote.....

"I felt like a retarded monkey trying to peel a banana."

 LOL!!!

Where I've Been

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I got this idea from Amy's Life and thought it was a cute idea for a blog post!!  My map shows what states I've been to.  Kinda sad after I got the end result.  Gosh..I haven't traveled near as much as I thought I would have by this time in my life!!!!  Sure..the states that are highlighted..some of them we have visited through and through and more times than we can count.  But there are so many I'd LOVEEE to visit!! 

Texas has always been one I'd love to see.  Anywhere out west..Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, California, Oregon.  They all look like beautiful places to see.  And who could resist a trip to Hawaii?  Not me!!

So tell me something special about the state you live in and why anyone should come and visit!!  I'd love to hear about 'your' state!

PS ~ After watching some home videos..I realized I forgot to include Maryland as a state I've visited also..ooops!

Consignment Finds!

So we headed out to a consignment sale this evening and I came back with some great stuff!!  I'll leave you with some pictures I took....

Car Seat Help!!!

Ok blogger mommies..I need your help!!  Makayla is getting VERY close to outgrowing her infant car seat and we're going to be buying a new convertible seat so it will last for a longer time probably by next month. 

I want your input!!

What are the best convertible car seats out there, in your opinion?  I know Britax has a really good reputation..I want something good because this is a car seat I am hoping she will be in for a while.  I also don't want to break the bank (I know Britax also comes with a price tag)..$150 or under would be preferable..but if its a little over I'd look into it if it came recommended.  I love her infant car seat but my only complaint with it is that even though its installed using the LATCH system..its never seemed like its tight enough.  And that worries me.  So I'd like something thats going to be easy to install yet sturdy while in place (if that makes sense).  And from the looks of it..the convertible car seats aren't removeable from the base (that is..like an infant one where you can take them in the stores with you..etc.).  To me..thats a HUGE bummer.  Alot of times she'll fall asleep in her car seat and its great to just be able to take her and the seat in the house..or in the store..wherever we may be. 

But anyways..please leave me some input..I'd truely appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eight {Ocho~Huit~Acht} Months!!



Today my baby girl turns eight months old!  The time is literally flying by..I told someone the other day it seems after they hit that two month mark the months just tick by before you have time to turn around!!  She's doing great though..and its a joy to watch her grow and learn new things each day.  Here are a few newer things she's been up to as of late.

~ Starting to go forward in her walker
~ A pro at sitting up (except on our hardwood floors..they are just too slippery for a little butt to have any grip!
~ Saying "ma-ma", "ba-ba", "ra-ra"..and still blowing raspberries
~ Smiling her "cookie monster" smile
~ Crawling army style..backwards (this has happened only once so far)
~ And still..cutting teeth..with none to show
~ Helping me eat lunch (video to follow)

Yeah she still doesn't have any teeth at 8 months!  I have a feeling though she's going to cut some this month and I wouldn't be at all suprised if she doesn't have like 5 by this time next month!  She's been working hard on it (and been grouchy as proof) so it probably won't be long.

She still LOVES her baby food!  I've been making all her babyfood in the past month and have loved every minute of it!  Her favorites are blueberries and pears.  I only wish peaches were in because she really likes peaches too.  I'll probably buy some frozen at some point and go about it that way.  I want to start her on meats this month too.  She's tried the meat baby food but hasn't really liked it.  I don't blame her..I've tasted them and they were pretty gross.  So homemade I think will definately be the route to go there.  And as you read above..she helps me 'eat' my lunch everyday!  Its so funny!

Makayla helping me eat lunch!

Her stats..as of her last doctor visit she had at the beginning of January are:

17 pounds (50% percentile)
27 1/4 inches tall (90% percentile)
18 inch head circumference (95% percentile)

She's definately got her daddy's head!  The doctor was pleased that her head wasnt growing quickly (she wanted to keep a check on it since she was in such a high range) and concluded that the nurses who measure her must have made a mistake early on with her head circumference..thus making her think it grew really quickly between one of her visits early on.  Whew!  I was glad about that!  It suprises me how much she has grown though..I look at her at times and think..gosh..she really is getting to be a big girl!!!  It does make me sad..but also happy that she's growing and getting stronger each day!  :-)

Love my baby girl!!!

 

Walking by Faith

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."  2nd Corinthians 5:7

I know many of you have probably read and heard this particular scripture preached on many many times.  But do we really take it for what it means?

Case in point, with the outlook in our area with coal mining jobs as of late..with a number of people getting layed off and other mines posting 60 day notices to close (as is the case w/Damons job site)..I've heard people over and over (to the point I'm literally sick of hearing it) say this phrase:

"Boy..things sure don't look good..do they?"

While that is true..where is the faith behind a statement like that?  And why on earth would you say such a sad thing to someone who may possibly be facing losing their job? 

We've had MANY people say this to us in the past week..and at first I didn't think a whole lot about it.  Until yesterday..when once again..we were told this for the hundreth time.  In church, no less. 

Do we really have and show our faith when troubled times arise????

This is something to think on, I believe.

While yes..at first I was upset at learning the news of the job situations around us..after it set in..I didn't worry about it anymore.  And I refuse to in the future.  Why?

Phil. 4:19  "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
2 Chron. 20:17  "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle:  set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem:  fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you."

Now granted the second scripture was intended for Judah and Jerusalem..but I believe the Bible is meant for us all.  God fights our battles for us..He expects us to have faith that He can take care of us..no matter the situation.  He's there for us..reguardless.  And yes..while it is possible we may have to face Damon not having a job for a little whie..its also possible that he WON'T lose his job either and that things will be turned around before then. 

Either way..God will be taking care of us.

:-)))))))

A belated photo shoot

I did a little photo shoot with Makayla just after Christmas and am just now getting around to showing you guys!  Things have just been really busy around here since the holidays! 

Anyways..I know alot of you on blogger did similar pictures of your babies with Christmas lights..and I just adored every one of them and had to do it myself.  Though I didn't get to take my 'photo shoot' in front of the tree (since I'd already taken it down by time I got around to doing this)..I did do a backdrop of snowflakes..which went pretty good with everything.  Here is the final product...my only regret is I couldn't get a smile out of her..but for her..thats pretty normal..she's just like daddy..clams up in front of the camera!!