Baby updates

Baby is 7 months old now...she is getting so big! It seems like every day she is doing something new.  She sits up, she says da-da (BUT she doesn't know what it means, so I don't think that it counts as a word), and just two nights ago....she started to CRAWL!!! Now I need to baby-proof the apartment...she wants to get her cute, little hands on everything!

Poo-Pourri, anyone?

Spritz the bowl

Before you go...

and no one else

will ever know!

A friend told me about Poo-pourri, and I just had to try it....It's great!! The new staple in our bathrooms!

My (maybe) new hobby...

One night last week, I decided that I wanted to go for a run. For most people, that doesn't sound so strange, but it's weird for me, because I don't run. I don't spin. I don't do yoga. I don't exercise at all.  But that night I put on my shorts and a tank top, and I ran to the World Trade Center and back. 

This morning, I wanted to run again.  This time I ran to the water by Battery Park, and back.  It's not far, but I feel good.  So maybe this will be my new nice-weather activity. Any advice on how to stay motivated?? I tend to get tired of things pretty easily...

Was it for baby...or mommy??

Yesterday we took baby to the zoo.  We went with one of my best-friends, her husband, and their 9 month old daughter.  We all had a great time, but at some point during the day, us parents realized that while the babies were enjoying themselves, they weren't really getting anything out of the zoo.  But us adults sure did!!! As they say...happy mommies (and daddies) make happy babies...so while the babies are babies, we're still going to go out and enjoy everything there is. Babies can come along, of course!

 

Stroller, Stroller, Stroller.....

We finally decided to buy a stroller. Up until now, we've been using our snap n' go, which is great, but baby is getting big, and she wants to be able to look around more.  Also, now that the weather is nicer and we walk around outside a lot more, we really should have a stroller with better tires and shocks. Who knew that it would be so hard to pick a stroller!! First we looked at the Bugaboo, since that seems very popular in the city.

But it is very hard to take apart, and since we use our car a lot, that wouldn't work for us.  Then we looked at the CityMini.  

But the CityMini doesn't have an option for the baby to sit facing you. 

Finally, we looked at the UppaBaby - and we love it!

We ordered it over the weekend and it should be in very soon. I can't wait to put baby in her new stroller!! 

Recalls are scary!!!

Last week Tylenol announced a voluntary recall on several of their infant/childrens medicines.

Right away I rushed to our medicine cabinet, and checked the ID numbers to see if they matched the products we have. And the ID numbers do match! Luckily our daughter hasn't needed to take any medicine, but I feel so bad for those parents whose kids had already used some of the (now) recalled products. It got me thinking, can we really trust any brands?? Scary!!

I guess I've been slacking....

Wow...it's been about a month since I last posted.  When I first started blogging, I was so good....I blogged every day, and if I knew I'd be busy one day, I would prepare the post the night before and then just post it in the morning.  So what happened to me? I don't know...I could blame it on the nice weather, baby and I spend most of our day outdoors now that the weather is so nice.  Or I could blame it on baby - she keeps me very busy!!! But the truth is, I just got lazy.  In my life, I've started a lot of things and then stopped: piano lessons, art lessons, gymnastics.  But I am going to change that....so I am back....and will prove to you that I can stick to something....just watch and see! ;)

TGIF...every week!!

Friday is my favorite day of the week. My sister only works Monday - Thursday, so EVERY Friday we spend the day together. We run errands, go shopping, go out to lunch, and now that the weather is nice I'm sure we'll be taking my baby to the playground a lot. I'm lucky that my sister and I are so close - she is my best friend and I have sooo much fun hanging out with her...even on days we can't seem to get ourselves out the door!!! Today we'll be shopping, lunching, and getting mani/pedis...Did I tell you yet that I love Fridays? ;)

Dinner Suggestions??

Now that we are on a budget, I cook every weeknight (unless we have dinner plans).  But if I'm going to be cooking all the time, I really need to get some new recipes! We eat the same thing over and over. When my husband and I first got married (almost two years ago), I used to pull out my cookbooks and try new recipes. But I've gotten lazy...so most nights we either have:

Spaghetti and Meatballs (my husband's favorite)

Chicken Parmesan (so easy and yummy)

Salmon

Hamburgers

Any suggestions on other dishes I can make, or do you have a favorite cookbook that I should try??

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Today is my Grandma's 93rd birthday. She is an AMAZING woman, truly an inspiration.  She lives alone, cooks all the time (great food), and volunteers four days per week at a gift shop near her home.  I hope that when I am 93, I am just as healthy and happy as she is.  We recently went to Florida so that our baby could meet her Great-Grandma.  Baby and Great-Grandma just ADORE each other! Happy Birthday Grandma!!

I hate colds...

It's been a week since I blogged, I had THE worst cold and just couldn't get myself near the computer. 

Thankfully, I am feeling much better now.  So look for me on Monday when I will be back to my blogging self. I don't have time to blog now, I need to go outside ASAP and soak in some much missed sunshine!
Have a great weekend!!

She rolls and rolls...

As you probably know from my post earlier this week, my daughter has just learned to roll over.  Every time I see her do it, I am so proud! But last night...putting her to bed...I finally had enough of her rolling.  It took her one whole hour to fall asleep. I always put her in her crib on her back. But last night she just didn't want to go to sleep. So she would roll over. And laugh. and laugh. Then she would roll over again. And laugh. And laugh.  And I know I'm not supposed to go into the room when she is falling asleep, but I had to go in a few times because it was so cute!! And seeing me probably made her more awake, but I just had to.  Sorry that I don't have pictures, but if I pulled out the camera she never would have gone to sleep. Happy Friday!!

The Adventures of My Hamper

My husband is not the neatest person.  He's clean (showers way too many times per day if you ask me), but he just doesn't always think about cleaning up after himself.  If I point it out to him, he is more than happy to clean up - but on his own, he is likely to leave clothes on the bathroom floor, plates on the counter, wrappers on the coffee table, you get the point.  Our hamper has always been in our bedroom, in the closet, but last week I had a great idea.

Since most of his dirty clothes end up on the bathroom floor, why not put the hamper in the bathroom so that he can just put his dirty clothes in there, instead of on the floor. So I told him my plan, moved the hamper, and then again reminded him of my plan.  Didn't work. Now his clothes just end up on top of the hamper and on the floor next to the hamper. Sooo...hamper is moving back to our bedroom closet. Men!!!

I guess I should have read the box....

This is my daughter's favorite toy. 

Until today, I couldn't figure out why she loves it so much.  It doesn't look like anything special, but whenever we take it away from her, she cries.  She holds it, makes it squeak (even though I think that's more by accident) and puts it in her mouth. She likes to bites its ears, its mouth, LOVES to bite the legs.  This morning, I looked for it on Amazon because I want to buy it for my friend who is having a baby. And when I found it, I saw that Sophie the Giraffe is a teether!

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether, Brown/ White

No wonder she likes it so much! I better start reading the boxes when I open her new toys! Who knows what else I don't know :)

On a side note - my baby rolled over yesterday!! And now she keeps rolling! I love it! :)

5 Reasons I love Spring...

As soon as the weather gets nice, I get SO happy. Here are five reasons why I love Spring:

1. Sundresses and skirts.

2. Flip-Flops. And pedicures.

3. Outdoor seating at restaurants.

4. Long walks. And the smell of freshly cut grass.

5. Taking my daughter to the playground.

What do you like about Spring??

Tax Time!

Yesterday we went to the accountant to get our taxes done. We watched the accountant review our paperwork, and calculate everything.

When he was all finished, he told us that we should seriously consider buying some real estate! We've looked here and there, but not too seriously. So last night we started looking online - we have so much to figure out.

We're still undecided if we should stay in the city, or move to the suburbs; if we should buy an apartment, or buy a house. But I guess for now we'll look at everything, and then narrow it down later on. At least we have the same taste in real estate, now we just have to find the place we love!

A little bit creepy....

Yesterday was SO beautiful out, so I took my baby to the playground. Yes, she is too young to play, but I am so excited for when she will be able to play, that I just had to take her there. I took her down the baby slide a few times - she really liked it! When we returned to my building, the doorman kind of creeped me out. He is the NICEST guy ever, and I'm sure he meant well. We walked into the lobby, and he was saying how cute she is, and then he asked me if he can kiss her. What kind of question is that? If a friend, or a family member asked me that, I would be fine with it...but him?? Kind of weird. Luckily she was sleeping, so I told him that she is a very light sleeper and I didn't want her to wake up! :) I hope he doesn't ask again...

Putting Ourselves on a Budget

Now that I'm not working, my husband and I decided that we need to be on a budget. We've been saying it for the past two months, so it's time that we sit down and figure out how we can do this.

I'm already getting better - I use coupons, I go to the library instead of the bookstore, and we hardly ever order food. But there have to be more ways that we can save money. If only my husband would stop taking cabs everywhere he goes...that would save us a lot. But he's stubborn about that - so that's an ongoing battle. Any suggestions on how else we can budget or save money?

Crockpot Cooking

Last night my in-laws came over for dinner, and so I decided that I would open my CrockPot and try it out. I now officially love the crockpot!

Around noon, into the crockpot went carrots, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, chicken cutlets, onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, and white wine. I then set the timer for five and a half hours, and just let it cook. Right before we were ready to eat, I made a salad, mixed vegetables, and rice and then we sat down to the most DELICIOUS meal. My husband and in-laws kept saying how great the chicken turned out, and my husband already asked me if I can make this dish again soon. So cute! I have a feeling the crockpot is going to be my new best friend!!!!

Music Class Drama

I decided to sign my daughter up for a free trial music class in my neighborhood. At four and a half months old, she's probably too young to get much out of it, but it's free, she can hear songs and interact with other kids, and maybe I would get to make some new mommy friends (that didn't happen - the class was all nannies, but that'll be a different day's post). Anyway, towards the end of the class, I laid my daughter down on the mat and was playing with her. Along crawls a little boy, probably around 9 months old, and he starts touching her. Cute, I thought, he's exploring another baby. Then all of a sudden - he grabbed my daughter's hair and YANKED. In his fist were SO many of her hairs! I was so upset, even though my baby wasn't upset at all. The boy's mommy was upset too, she quickly slapped her son's cheek HARD. I didn't realize people still do that. Now I don't know who I feel worse for...my daughter or that poor little boy who didn't realize he was doing anything wrong.

Thank goodness for bachelorette parties!!

My husband left on a business trip yesterday - he and 4 co-workers are in the Cayman Islands until Sunday night. Lucky them! While they're doing some work today, they then get to spend the rest of the weekend sitting at the beach, snorkeling, and going to nice dinners.

I am so jealous! I I get to sit inside our apartment watching the rain, and taking care of the baby all by myself. But wait...I have my own trip to look forward to. In less than two months, I will be at my best-friend Dollface's Bachelorette party in SUNNY, warm Costa Rica!! I knew there was a reason I love my friends! :) They are the BEST reason to go away. I am counting down the days!!!,