I Need Feedback!

I have set up an appoitment to have family pictures taken on Thursday of next week. The reason we haven't gone yet is because I have been super indecisive about what we are all going to wear.

I chose a purple sweater for me. I am going to wear this denim skirt with it. I am torn between wearing black boots with it or my black flats. What do you think? Russ is going to wear this black polo. Should he wear khaki's or jeans?
Chloe Jo is the one I'm having trouble deciding about. I love this gray and pink outfit, but it is a little big on her. Does it even match my purple sweater?

My other pick is this cream sweater dress. Will it look okay with our long sleeved shirts? Plus the shoes I put with this outfit are brown. Will that look okay with Russ and I wearing black?

Am I just overthinking this? Well, you don't have to answer that one because I already know the answer!

Playing at the Park

Yesterday, Russ and I took Chloe Jo to the park for the first time. I wanted to take her swinging. We didn't even know where a close park was so we had to search for one online and I wasn't sure it would have the infant swings. We took a chance and we were lucky! It was a gorgeous park with lots of space to run (not that any of us were running, but for future reference), a great little playground with the infant swings, a pond, pavilions and a historical building. We, of course, had to take lots of pictures!

Momma and Chloe Jo

Just a swingin'. Chloe Jo didn't like it when I put her in the infant swing first so I swung with her for a little bit. She also didn't know what to think about me wearing sunglasses. Everytime I wear a hat or sunglasses she just stares at me. It's so funny!

Her initial reaction: starting to cry.

Oh, wait a second. This is fun. I like this!

Again, her initial reaction to the slide wasn't good. She got really startled when we slid down, but then she liked it the second and third times (or maybe she just tolerated it).

Momma, Chloe Jo and Momma's enormous thigh. I know this isn't the best angle, but it's cute other than that!

Momma, Chloe Jo and the fabulous fall trees

Chloe Jo and Daddy

Daddy and Chloe Jo

I loved the way the sun was shining through the branches of the trees and how you could see the orange and yellow leaves on one tree and the green on another.

I thought this was an interesting tree because it only had leaves on one side.

Until next time. Goodbye park.

If You Give A Baby A Mouse...

She's going to want a book to go with it.

6 Month Check-Up

Chloe Jo had her 6 month check-up this morning. I knew her stats weren't going to change much, but I was still surprised by how small she is.

Her length is 25 inches.

This is what surprised me the most. She has now dropped down into the 25th percentile. She was in the 50th percentile 2 months ago.

Her weight is 13 pounds 14 1/2 ounces.

She has dropped into the 10th percentile for weight.

Her head circumference is 40 1/2 centimeters and I didn't ask what percentile she is in for that. It was 10th at her last appointment and I looked up the CDC's growth charts and it indicated that she is now in the 5th percentile.

Chloe Jo's pediatrician is not concerned about any of this yet. She said that most babies start leveling off more around this time. Also since Chloe Jo is not interested in nursing as much anymore then that is the reason for her weight percentile going down so much. Since she is still growing it is fine. We will wait until her 9 month appointment and if her percentiles are still going down then we can look into it more then. Apparently, she is just a small baby. All of her other development is right on schedule.

All in all, it was a good appointment. We are so blessed to have this healthy baby girl in our lives!

Cause of Apartment Fire

Firefighters were called to -my apartment complex- a little before 10 p.m. Monday night. Fire Marshall said the fire was ruled accidental due to careless smoking. People who lived in the apartment that caught fire had discarded cigarettes in a plastic potted plant with soil. One person was hospitalized with smoke inhalation.

Way to go.

Major Couponer Alert!

My sis and brother-in-law totally got me into couponing. I always thought that I could get a better deal buying the store brand than I could getting the name brand with a coupon. The problem actually was that I didn't know how to coupon. Once I really got into it and found a couponing site that I love, the savings are really stacking up.

Store: Walgreens
Total out of pocket bill: $24.42The Breakdown:

3 boxes Slim Fast - On sale for $4.99 each (no coupons for these, but that's a good deal) = $14.97
1 package of Charmin toilet paper (6 double rolls) - On sale for $3.49 and $.25 coupon = $3.24
1 bag of kettlecorn popcorn - Clearanced for $2.00 and $.30 coupon = $1.70
1 Dove Shampoo and 1 Dove Conditioner - On sale 2 for $6.00, 1 coupon for $1.00 and 1 coupon for $1.50 = $4.50
1 Sally Hershberger Shagg Spray - retails for $12.99, clearanced for $6.49 and $2.00 coupon = $4.49
2 Glade soy candles - On sale for $3.99 each and 2 $3.50 coupons = $.98
4 Campbell's tomato soups - normally 3 for $4.00, in ad coupon for 2 for $1.00 with a limit of 4, 2 $1.00 off of 2 coupons = FREE
2 Trident Xtra Care gums - On sale for 2 for $2.00 with $1.00 register reward and $1.00 coupon = FREE

I also had $12.00 in register rewards from last week
I love how half my receipt is coupons.
Enough said.

Fire Update

One person was treated for smoke inhalation, but other than that there were no injuries according to our newspaper. They don't know what started the fire. It was contained mostly on the roof and in the attic, but there were some living areas that were damaged. It could have been a lot worse.

One Dark Night...

While I was putting Chloe Jo to bed tonight, I kept hearing sirens. They just went on and on and they sounded really close. After I laid Chloe in her pack and play, I walked outside and this is what I saw.

No one was hurt that I know of, but I didn't talk to anyone. It looked like it was just the porch area on fire and I didn't see any stretchers or EMT's. The fire is out now and it looks like the firemen are just checking things out. I'll update when I know more.

Alzheimer's Walk Weekend

Chloe Jo and I went with G-Jo to my brother-in-law and sister's house this weekend to participate in the annual Alzheimer's Walk. Our team (Team Gray Wolf) raised $1,000 for Alzheimer's research! We had a wonderful weekend with Chelley and Chris!

First, we went to G-Jo's house to meet her there to drive together after she got off work. This was Chloe Jo's pile of luggage (and we actually used most of it while there!).
This was my pile. The whole trunk was full!

When we pulled up to Chelley and Chris' house, all of the doors and windows were open....uh oh...what happened? Chelley came out and said "We're going out to eat and Chris is buying because he burnt the chili!" The whole house smelled like smoke and burnt chili.

Saturday morning was the main event of the weekend: The Alzheimer's Walk!

Chelley and Chris (and baby) with our sign in the Field of Teams.

G-Jo (my Mom)

Chloe Jo and I

Chloe Jo wore her "I heart Grand Pappy" shirt for the walk. My Grand Pappy has had Alzheimer's for a number of years and it is heart wrenching to watch the effects of the disease. We walked for him.

Team Gray Wolf

Chloe Jo also wore a sunhat so she wouldn't get sun burned. My friend, Sue, made this for her. The yellow tag on the top has her name on it.

The crowd milling around the booths that were set up.

Chloe Jo by one of the walk signs.

The Gray Wolf Girls

The Walk starting off.

The enormous line of walkers.

Chris, Chloe Jo, G-Jo and Chelley (and baby) walking under the finish line banner.

After the walk ended, G-Jo, Chelley, I and Chloe Jo went to a few stores so Chelley could register for her baby showers. We had a lot of fun! It reminded me how much I want to have another little one if it is possible. Chloe Jo was so good while we were walking and shopping!

When we got back to Chris and Chelley's house, Chelley wanted to make a wall decoration for the baby's room. Her colors are going to be greens and purples and her animal crush is birds right now. This is really funny because my animal crush is owls. Anyway, she wanted to make a large bird for a wall in the nursery. She said she wanted me to help her make it, but it kind of ended up that I made it while she played with Chloe Jo and watched. HA!

It turned out better than she thought it would. I think it's pretty stinking cute, too. I'm probably going to make something for Chloe Jo's wall when she gets her own room. The bird is about 2 foot across.

While we were there, Chloe Jo developed red splotches on her cheeks and the right cheek was burning up. She didn't seem to have a fever anywhere besides her little cheek. She didn't seem bothered by it at all, but I was! She must have had an allergic reaction to something (though, I didn't feed her anything new). Chelley thinks she gets hives from anxiety like me. I am always breaking out into hives that are warm to the touch when I am anxious or upset. It's very embarrassing and I am hoping that was not the case for Chloe Jo. I don't know what she could have been allergic to, though.

We also had to take pictures of Chloe Jo in the cradle my dad built for my sister when she was born. Apparently all of his grandchildren (except one that was adopted after he was a baby) have slept in this cradle and have had pictures taken in it. Chloe Jo was too big to sleep in it, but hopefully he will enjoy the picture.

We also took a picture of her in this rocking chair that my dad made for Chelley.

We left after on Sunday afternoon to come back home. After evening services we went with G-Jo and Grampy (and Daddy was there, too) to a steakhouse to eat supper.

Here is Chloe Jo on one of the saddles they have around the restaurant.

When we finally got home, Chloe Jo and I were plumb tuckered out.