Long-overdue Beck update!

Beck is 8 months old today! I really can't believe it. He is more cute and fun every day. He is getting so grown up, and feels like a little best friend to me and not just a baby, ya know? He is so funny, and cute, and squishy, and so happy. I'm sorry I haven't given a "milestones" update recently; here are a few things Beck's up to lately:

--says Mama, Dadda and nanananana for "no"; I was pretty skeptical that he actually associated what these words were, but especially just the last few days, he says them at the perfect/appropriate times, so I'm pretty convinced!
--army-crawls really well now
--makes all sorts of noises, including raspberries, cute "ooooohs", grunts, and trilling (like with Spanish r's)
--sits up really well
--is starting to get down the "pincer" grasp, where they pick up little things with their thumb and pointer-finger, which is adorable!
--still is a bad sleeper, but I guess nobody's perfect :)
--weighs about 23 pounds (weighed 20 @ 6-month appt.) and is getting really tall!
--reaches out for people, which is soooo cute
--is getting four more bottom teeth within the next week or so, we're pretty sure
--loves drinking from straws and cups, but not sippy cups
--very cuddly, especially when he's sleepy, and he'll just hug/hold on--so cute!
--is still pure energy
--loves everybody, and is pretty much loved by everybody too!

A couple cute videos:
Beck's latest noises


Beck army-crawling
This is from more than a week ago, so he's gotten even better since then!

Somebody loves polka-dots...

I was picking up before bed last night, and happened to have three different bags of mine in our entryway--notice any common theme? :) I thought it was so funny, I just had to take a picture. The even funnier part is that as I was taking the pic, I noticed I also had Beck's polka-dotted blanket hanging by them as well. What can I say? I have a mini obsession. :)

More amazing deals--Albertsons double coupons through tonight! And Beck's first haircut! :)

I just had to share some amazing deals I got yesterday, thanks to Albertsons' sales and double coupons, plus a little planning, of course. :) So, I don't have time to make an itemized list, but I got all of this--retail value of $70--for $7!

I have some extra Albertsons double coupons available if any of you want some! They're only good through tonight, so let me know asap! They are most amazing when you pair them with a high-value coupon ($.75 or $1--Albs will only match up to $1) and a sale. One quick example: I had a few $1 off any 1 McCormick spice, and Albertsons has their McCormick grinders on sale for 2/$4. So I used two $1/1, and two Albs double coupons, and ended up getting the grinders for free! I just had to pay tax. The most I paid for any of the items shown (besides eggs and bread, which I just picked up while I was there) is $1; most were $0.50.

Albs is also having an awesome promotion on Nabisco snacks and Special K products, so I'm headed back tonight to get some more amazing deals.

Yay for couponing! Let me know if you have any questions or would like any doublers! Or if you want to take a field trip to Albertsons with me tonight. :)

Also, here are a before and after pic of Beck's first haircut!




And one more pic, just because he is adorably happy here!

A few cute pics!

Bare-chested and seven months old!

I just had to post a few cute pics from the other day. We were in Idaho Falls when Beck pooed and it got on his onesie. I didn't have an extra one on me (his diapers pretty much never leak), so he went bare-chested. Thankfully he had shorts on, so it wasn't completely ghetto, just a little redneck. ;)


It was also funny because it was on his seven-month birthday, and these are the only pictures I took of him all day--bare-chested and crazy! :)
Don't you love his camo hat too? Adam is very proud of it. :)

$25 in free groceries @ Albertson's, through today (Tuesday)!

It's true! And amazing! And really easy! Just go to Albertson's and get a copy of their ad (usually in the front entryway, but if not just ask for one at the Customer Service desk). Buy $25 in participating items, and at the register it will print out a $5 Albertson's voucher and a Kraft rebate form. So you pay the $25 up front, but as long as you use the voucher (within two weeks) and submit the rebate, you get it all back! Let me know if you have any questions, or just ask an employee--they are generally really nice and helpful.

Fyi, the $5 Albertson's voucher is one per transaction, and the $20 Kraft rebate is one per household/address. (I did it twice, for me and my parents, so there's $50 worth of food shown in the pic, not $25.)

Yay for free food! :)

Absence does make the heart grow fonder :)

(Funny random pic from our trip!)

So for the last week I have been in Boise (and still am through next week), helping my parents move. I loooove Boise and totally want to end up here but I couldn't help but miss a few things about little ol' Rexburg. And since I've been kind of bashing on Rexburg lately, I thought I'd be a little more optimistic and think of a few things I miss about it:

-Adam!
-no traffic
-being able to get anywhere in like 5 minutes (even if there is only two places to go!)
-all the coupons and specials for poor college students
-the mild summer weather (most of the time)
-the temple
-Porter Park
-our friends!
-walks

Ok, that's all I can come up with. :) Here's one more cute pic from our visit so far:

This was after we had Beck babysat. He should have slept for three hours while he was there that afternoon, but I guess he didn't sleep at all!!! It literally only took him not even 10 seconds to be completely passed out on my shoulder--and this is a kid who is never easy to get to sleep! I was amazed and amused, and thought it was totally cute. :)

Amazing deals!

That's my excited coupon face. :)

I got so many good deals today that I just had to share! Look at this list and guess how much I paid for all of it, just for fun. :)

1 bottle of Kraft Miracle Whip ($4 retail)
2 bottles of Kraft Mayo ($8 retail)
2 refrigerated pizza crusts ($7 retail)
2 bottles Jet Dry ($8 retail)
1.5 pounds Jennie-O deli turkey ($9.00 retail)
2 bags frozen veggies steamers ($6 retail)
1 bag Oroweat thin hamburger buns ($3.99 retail)
1 24 oz. bottle Nalley pickles ($4.50 retail)
2 Coppertone sunblocks ($21.99 retail)
4 All laundry det. bottles, 38 loads each ($24 retail)

So like $100 retail...





All for $27! Yay! Hopefully someone is excited with me. :)

Beck @ 5 months!

Well, he's almost 5 1/2 months now, but I wanted to celebrate his 5-month mark. :)

Some of Beck's milestones this month:
-solids, which he absolutely loves
-juice, which he always makes a sour face at, but always wants more :)
-rolling over!
-two teeth!
-becoming obsessed with faces, and the grabbing of them :)
-his continued obsession of trying to shove absolutely anything in his mouth!
-discovering his manhood in the bathtub ;)
-becoming best friends with his feet!
-laughs when tickled now, instead of looking confused


Some other fun/funny things that we love about him lately :) :
-that he's still so cuddly (I hear they grow out of it soon!)
-his grunty laugh
-when he moves his arm up and down when he's excited (hard to explain, cute to see!)
-his waking up routine: he wakes up with a glazed look, coos to himself softly for a minute or so, stretches while releasing built-up gas :) , then finds Mom and gives a huge smile :)
-his love affair with his bottle!
-that he's funny and doesn't even realize it

p.s. Sorry I suck at blogging lately! I promise I'll be better when Adam's finished with this insane semester!

Garage sale tomorrow--Sat., July 11--in Rexburg!

Hey everyone! Me and a couple friends are doing a little garage sale tomorrow, and you should all come! :) Here's the info:

Multi-family garage sale! Must come see. :)

BABY items--clothing, swing, jogging stroller, bouncy seat, carseat/stroller combo, diapers, more!

SCRAPBOOKING items--paper, cardstock, stickers, embellishments, carriers!

OTHER items-- graduation cap/gown, some adult clothing/shoes, office organizer, other household items!

320 W. 5th S., Rexburg

Hi!

Ok, lamest title ever. :) But I just wanted to say hi to everyone and give a short update! I haven't had much time to blog lately and feel so out of touch with everyone! But I love you all and will catch up on blogging soon, hopefully. :)

So here's basically what we've been up to:
Me: Taking care of Beck, 99% of the time. :) Other than that, hmmm... I got called to be on the Compassionate Service Committee in our ward, so I'm excited about that. And I'm slightly obsessed with coupons! I just recently got back from a weekend with all the girls on my mom's side of the family 18 and older--"Girls' Trip"--which was way fun. It was crazy to be without Beck for the whole weekend! I totally missed him, but it was nice to have a little break too. :) That's me in a nutshell for the moment!

Adam: Crazy busy. He's working full-time, and is in his second-to-last semester of his MBA. He's gone all day, and then comes home to homework. He is also the Gospel Doctrine teacher in our ward, which he is amazing at, but it takes some time. Oh! And this last week he signed up for Facebook and Twitter--two things I thought he would NEVER do! Although it's mainly for work purposes (he's working on some proposals to implement their uses for the Housing Department), I know he's secretly enjoying it. :)



Beck: He's about to wake up to eat, so I have to hurry (yeah, he does NOT sleep through the night). But he is wonderful and so happy and adorable, and has a TOOTH!


p.s. Don't judge too harshly if there are any typos! I usually proofread but have to go! Love you all!

Beck is four months old!!!

Happy four-month birthday to Beck! I felt like we should throw a little party or something! Every month is so exciting when they're so little. :) Beck was pretty excited about his special day too:


Beck is perfect. We love him! Here are some recent things we love about him:
--when he tries to hold his bottle (and usually ends up knocking it out of his mouth)
--when he squeals out of pure happiness!
--that he loves "kicking back" and putting his little hands behind his head
--when you're not smiling at him, and he looks at you like, "What's wrong?"
--that he's not quite as restless anymore (thank goodness!)
--when he squeals like a girl when he's whining
--when he's talking and has his hands together and his little eyebrows furrowed the slightest bit, like he's having a serious conversation :)
--that he's happy and smiley 99% of the time
--his overly dramatic meltdowns :)
--his first smile of the morning, when he's totally groggy, but so happy, his smile can barely fit on his face
--his beautiful blue eyes
--his squirminess
--that he rolled over today!
--his "social skills" :) (he is so interactive and cute!)
--that he loves people and loves to be held and cuddled
--that he loves to chew on everything possible (even Adam's hair the other day!)
--that he loves his mom and dad!

p.s. Any advice on introducing solids?

Beck walking at 3 1/2 months :)

Beck loves to practice walking! He's been doing this for the past couple of weeks. We're holding his hands, but not pulling him or supporting his body weight--promise. :) Strong kid!

So grateful for motherhood

Happy Mothers' Day, everyone--those with children and those without! My life has been touched by so many mothers. First and foremost, my own mother, who is one of the friendliest, happiest people I have ever known. I truly consider her one of my best friends, and am so grateful to have such a close relationship with her. I am also so grateful to have "gained" a second mother almost four years ago. :) I look up to and have learned so much from her.

I am especially grateful this year to call myself a mother. I love Beck so much. He has changed our lives, increased our love (and patience!) and brings us so much happiness.

I know there are some today who are hurting, who think they may not ever be able to celebrate Mothers' Day for themselves. I have been there. Don't lose hope! Last year on this day I could hardly hold myself together because I longed so much to be a mother; this year I could hardly hold myself together because I am one!

The Lord watches over each one of us, and I know we are all here to be mothers to God's children and our own. I know families can be together forever and am so grateful to have that knowledge, and to have a wonderful family to spend forever with.

Love you all! Thank you for being my mothers (and sisters!). :) Happy Mothers' Day!

25 things about Beck :)

Beck is now three months old! Can you believe it? I can't! In honor of him and his three little months of life, we'd like to share a few fun things about our little babe:

Beck...
1. is the first Ririe grandson, the first Ririe and Goodspeed great grandson, and the second Williams grandson.

With Williams grandparents

With Hamilton grandparents

With Great Grandma Billie

He hasn't met Grandpa Ririe, Great Grandma Jojo or Great Granddaddy & Hanne yet!

2. used to squeak really loud when he ate, for the first month or so, but has outgrown it, which is kind of sad because it was really funny and cute--and loud. :)


3. loves his fist.


4. was born with a mullet. :)


5. is completely fascinated by lights; there is a light above Alex's head in this pic. :)


6. is really strong--he has been able to stand since he was just a few weeks old and has such a tight grip.


7. used to grunt a ton for the first few months; this video isn't the best example of it, but you'll get the idea. :)


8. has a secret dimple like his mom (only apparent when whistling for Mom, or for Beck, when drinking his bottle)--I don't have a good pic of it!

9. has a double chin like his dad (Adam told me to say that!).


10. used to absolutely hate baths and getting his diaper changed--he now tolerates baths and loves getting his diaper changed, thank goodness!

11. has to grab onto something to fall asleep, usually your shirt or finger.


12. has three aunts, three uncles and one cousin.

With Tim & Aimee


With Elizabeth & Alex

With Cody & Elizabeth
With Jared


13. is soooo wiggly!


14. was born in Rexburg, Idaho.

15. couldn't live without his binky.


16. is very cuddly.


17. sometimes gets "devil eyes" when falling asleep (I think he's technically getting in to his REM cycle).


18. has been smiling pretty much from day one.
One week

Three months


19. gets the hiccups all the time, especially when he gets excited.

20. scored a 9 on both APGAR tests right after birth, the highest scores the hospital has seen in over a year (that's what the nurses told us).


21. loves to be a part of the action all the time.


22. is very observant, and loves to look around and take everything all in.

23. is somewhat dramatic. :)


24. is a little Houdini, and refuses to be swaddled; if you go ahead and swaddle him, he will not settle down until he has wriggled out of it.


25. is incredibly loved!

Random baby things for sale :)

I was doing a little spring cleaning and came across a few things I'd like to clear out. Wanted to see if any of you were interested before putting them on Craigslist. No pressure, just let me know if you're interested!

Argyle crib bumper + extras: $25
Cute argyle crib bumper! I'll also throw in the window valance, diaper stacker and crib skirt from the set, too.


Pampers Swaddlers, size 1, 100 ct.: $15
Beck got too chubby too quickly. :) Comes out to 15 cents a diaper, which is really good for Pampers. These sell for $20 at Wal-Mart.


Infantino 6in1 Rider baby carrier: $20
Brand new, never been opened. Got it as a gift, just haven't used it. I'm sure it's great!
More info on it here: http://www.infantino.com/Carriers/151-019.php