Pox Meet Chicken, Chicken, Pox

I just looked at my last Tanner post… it was a 13-months. Tanner is now almost 16-months. I should probably start saving for college, time is flying by so fast. Well, the exception to the time flies by thing is seven days of chickenpox… worst week ever for Tanner and all who surrounded him.

Life with Tanner in a glance:

-Favorite words are “Hey Cow” (pronounced a cohow), “Here Kitty Kitty” (pronounced he kit kit), “Paw Paw”, and “Drink” (pronounced dink), and “Bye”

-Favorite foods are hot dogs, Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal, toast with jam, fruit smoothies, and pickles

-Hobbies include putting up groceries, playing blocks, taking walks, terrorizing the cats, and watching Mikey Mouse Clubhouse

-Tanner can now reach most light switches, climb onto the coffee table, and pull the electrical socket covers out

-He gives hugs and kisses, and will actually sit down for 10 minutes at a time

Uh Oh Baby, Tanner is 13-months

Time continues to fly by as Tanner turned 13-months. Life with Tanner in a glance:

-Favorite words are “Uh Oh”, “Baby”, “Uh Oh Baby”, “Truck”, “Yuck”, “Kitty Cat”

-Favorite foods are bananas, green beans, hot dogs

-Hobbies include eating rocks, licking shoes, and dancing

-Went to the pool for the first time and loves it!

-Tanner can now climb like a monkey; he also off a chair and ended up in a golfball sized knot on his forehead

-I am still not sure if he is right or left handed?

-He runs, and runs, and never stops moving

-After a diaper change, we waits to be handed a his diaper, and then marches it into the kitchen, throws it in the trash can, shuts the door, and claps

A Flock of Chicken

After 21 days exactly, the first and only egg begin to hatched. I was traveling back from Harrisonburg, so I missed Heningway’s, as he is so lovely called, emergence from life inside the shell. After he had time to dry off he was moved into a brooder where he will stay for four to five weeks.

Any hatchlings are considered a success when dealing with shipped hatching eggs. As we hope to have around five or six chickens, we are no considering whether to order more hatching eggs or go with day-old baby chicks.

It’s been just a little over a week since his arrival and the difference in Heningway’s appearance and level of activity is pretty amazing. He has a small chick feeder with a mason jar on top that he is able to roost on. I figure in a couple of weeks we will have to add some mesh netting to the top of the brooder to keep him in.

Adventures in Couponing 7/5

This was my second week of couponing and things went pretty smoothly this week. I have one little glitch at CVS because I got the Dry Max instead of the Cruisers (that were on the advertised sale), but the Manager was nice and helped me figure out how to make my purchase work to get the $10 gas card. You’ll notice that my CVS purchase was still pretty high, but the toilet paper and diapers couldn’t wait.

My sister, Amy, also got in on the action.

Amy Rite Aid 7/9

Crest Toothpaste 4oz, John Frieda Hair Care Root Awakening Shampoo & Conditioner, Old Spice Red Zone Body Wash (not pictured), Old Spice Fresh Collections Deodorant, Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner

Retail $38.43
Paid Cash $2.35 (94% savings!)
Received $7.00 +UP
with +UP / rebate in consideration, like making $4.65

Kickstarter, More Business of Being Born

Here’s a post from July 19, 2011 in response to watching the documentary the Business of Being Born after the birth of my first (and only) LO.

I just finished watching “The Business of Being Born”. A friend (and PA) recommended I watch this before giving birth and although I had the intention of doing so, didn’t get around to it. Upon watching it today, I would recommend it for every expecting mother. It highlights many of the dissatisfactions that I had with my labor and delivery, such as having to be induced, the induction causing a more painful experience, the sense of not having control of the experience (like the use of a vacuum to help deliver without my permission), the sterile and unfriendly environment of the hospital, missing the immediate bonding experience the seconds after delivery because I was high from the Demoral and couldn’t get my body to respond to commands to move, etc. Not to mention the bills! Don’t get me wrong. I am very happy with the results… a healthy, happy, and cute-as-a-button baby boy, but was the experience all it could have been? If we choose in the future to attempt for Number 2, I might opt to do things a little differently. Watch this documentary!

I was excited to stumble upon a Kickstarter project for a follow-up to this documentary called More Business of Being Born. Can wait to see this!

A Far As I Am Concerned, The Egg Came First

After weeks of anticipation the hatching eggs arrived at our local post office. Our postmaster is probably thinking “what’s next after bees and chickens?” At least they are getting less dangerous. 

Upon their arrival, Dad got them established in their new home (for the next 21 days, give or take a few), a Brinsea Mini Advance Incubator. This incubator provides automatic egg turning with auto-stop two days prior to hatching, a countdown to date of hatch, and temperature alarms. Fancy, fancy. I am excited that we went with hatching eggs, instead of day-old baby chicks, as I am now part of the experience from the very beginning.

Bluegrass Sounds Better at 4848′

Bluegrass is coming from my office. Very loud bluegrass. It is time to get psyched about the 4th of July Bluegrass Festival at Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

When it comes to bluegrass, I wouldn’t say that I am a hard core fan, but I do enjoy it pretty often. And somethings makes it even more appealing to the ears as it blasts from the side of Skidder* slope at an elevation of 4848′ with the rolling mountains in the background.

Adventures in Couponing, 6/27

I admit it. I watched Extreme Couponing on TLC and began clipping coupons that night. I have no shame.

After weeks of studying the world of couponing, I decided to make take the plunge. This week was my first attempt and I have to say it went well.

My biggest challenge is my location. It is not easily for me to drop by a store with the nearest town almost an hour and a half away, so in order to make my efforts worth while, I will have to combine my shopping with already planned trips. It doesn’t do me any good to save $10 at the store, only to spend it in gas. Luckily, this week, I had a grocery shopping trip planned, so these extras stops were no problem. And s0 begins the start of my stockpile.

Mini-Vaca: Healing Touch Wellness Spa

This past weekend, Chad, Tanner, and I escaped to Harrisonburg, VA for a weekend of fun and to visit family. Tanner had his first night away from me and it didn’t phase him at all; I didn’t fare as well, but survived. Chad and I stayed in town and did some shopping, watched a couple of movies (Bridesmaids – funniest movie ever, Hangover 2 – not funny), and ate sushi.

One of the highlights of the weekend was my trip to The Healing Touch Wellness Spa. I. Love. The. Spa. Before this weekend, my last trip to the spa was several years ago, so I was super excited to plan another treat. I felt more relaxed as soon as I called to make my appointment; I could hear water running and relaxing spa music in the background. I was set for Saturday. 

Happy WV Day!

Today we celebrate the 148th birthday of the greatest state in the Union.

I stumbled across a great blurb from The Smoking Musket that I wanted to repost:

West Virginia isn’t any old state.

Any old state wouldn’t have a legion of birthday wishes to it starting very early this morning. Any old state wouldn’t inspire the same amount of passion and allegiance. Any old state wouldn’t shape the identity of so many of its residents.

No, this is West Virginia, and for better or worse, this state is who we are and always will be. You can meet someone halfway acrossthe world, and if by happenstance you’re both from West Virginia, you’ve just met a friend. That just doesn’t happen with other parts of the country.

So today, on our great state’s 148th birthday, remember the things that make West Virginia so special. It’s singing Country Roads at weddings as loud as you can. It’s our motto, “Montani Semper Liberi,” a phrase that seems to place West Virginia as a higher cause. It’s the topography, as wild and wonderful as it was back in 1863 (OK, well, almost).

And, most of all, it’s the people. Because, without the people, West Virginia might just be another state in the Union. Instead, it’s the best.