Santa's coming to town! (8 month update)

Have YOU finished your shopping?

I haven't! I am almost done though, I am always one of those frantic people at the mall spending unnecessary money to make sure I have enough for everyone. It is Jaliyah's first Christmas and I am SO excited. She's at such a good age for a first Christmas. I have to make sure my video camera is charged.

Jaliyah is 22 lbs 16 oz; She is in size 9-12m tops and 18m bottoms and can now..

Pull herself up on things - to standing
Walk along furniture
Stand alone without holding onto anything for a few seconds
Say da-da (and know who it is)
Self feed
Blow raspberries on me :)

Many of you know my struggle with getting Jaliyah to be independent. We are still co-sleeping but she can now put herself to sleep with no rocking/shhh-ing or anything. I just have to lay her down and she goes to sleep. She also is great playing by herself for awhile but she loves to follow mommy around too. She loves babbling and discovering new sounds she can make. I cannot believe how big she is getting. She is also (finally) on a great schedule for her and I! We struggled so much with this because I work and go to school, but I've had a few days off and was able to work on a good schedule. She is well rested and much happier, which means a happier mommy!

We did Christmas pictures on her 8 month birthday, so we will not be doing 9 month pictures. Instead we will wait until April and do her 1 year pictures! Wow, only 4 months away! I hope you all have an AMAZING holiday. Also, if there is anything you would like to see reviewed, discussed, or have any questions - leave a comment :)

Black Friday

Hoooly cow! Yesterday was my first black Friday shopping experience. I didn't get an early start like I wanted to. I got out there at about 8am, I was hoping for 4am but oh well. I went to Babies R Us first and there was NO ONE there. I don't know if it was because everyone went there super early or if Toys R Us was more appealing, but I was not about to face the Toys R Us crowd. I ended up getting my 2 cans of formula for $35, clothes for 50% off and a Toy Story mini chair for my nephew for 50% off - wohoo! Then I ventured to the mall and surprisingly, it was not as bad as I thought! Once again, I don't know if it was because I got an early start but my first stop was JCPenney. I just got a few things for myself all at 50% off and a pair of leggings for Jaliyah for $3.99. I'm kicking myself in the butt now because I should have got work clothes for myself but oh well.

I just walked around the mall the rest of the time, the line for Victoria Secret wrapped about the upper level of the mall - I'm sorry but NO bra is worth that wait. Kohls had a 2 hour wait just to check out - no way jose.

I did a little online shopping when I got home, JCPenney was out of stock at the store for Jaliyah's Xmas dress, I got that 50% off on the website. I also did some shopping at www.CSNstores.com and got some presents for Jaliyah. I did about 40% of my Christmas shopping yesterday, so I have a good start! Usually I'm the person at the mall on Christmas eve getting things lol Not this year!

Next order of business..making Jaliyah's stocking :) What kind of deals did you ladies find?

Thanksgiving 2010

I hope everyone had an awesome and fun Thanksgiving holiday! Jaliyah's first Thanksgiving started off a little rough but definitly got much better. She had some mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and banana pudding! She loved allll of it, especially banana pudding :) Just wanted to share some photo's - link me in the comments to your Thanksgiving pictures!

It's that time!

Have YOU started making your Holiday shopping list?! I sure haven't but after a conversation last night with a friend, I need to! The biggest shopping day of the year is fast approaching and there are SO many good deals coming up, I'm going to be one of those crazy psycho's (excuse me if you are one of those - no hard feelings) out in line at a store at 2:00 a.m. It's Jaliyah's first Christmas, and even though she won't remember it, I want it to be the start of many fun and memorable holiday seasons!

Here is my theory..tell me if I'm wrong/weird/silly/stupid..but before I actually became a mother, I always wanted to make the holiday season full of fun things - crafts, baking cookies, baking pies, making fun dinners, music, and all types of things. Soooo my theory is if I start now (even though she won't know what is really going on) she will begin to associate the smells and sounds she hears with the holiday season..what do you think? Am I crazy?

Anyways..Just a little update: Miss Jaliyah gets to see her sisters this weekend, she has not seen them in about 3 weeks so I know they are going to be excited to see her too. She is becoming much more independent when it comes to play time but still not sleeping well at night. In the last month and a half she wakes up every couple hours during the night :( I know this happens, it is just weird and taking some getting used to because she has slept through the night since about 1 month old.

Time to get ready for work :) Let me know what's on your shopping list!

It finally feels like the holiday season is here!

Growing up, my favorite part of the year was the holiday season! I love the feeling in the atmosphere, the smells, the food, the changing leaves - everything! But..like a lot of other things, that feeling kind of faded as I got older. It wasn't the same because all the kids in my family were adults now and it just felt different. One of the main things I looked forward to when becoming a mommy was bringing that holiday spirit and fun back! I love traditions and being able to keep them going with my daughter.

This is her FIRST holiday season! AHHH! I can't wait, even though she has no idea what is going on lol It's time for baking holiday cookies, carving pumpkins, cooking large family meals, presents, lights, snow, lots of family, cinnamon smelling candles and homemade apple pie. WOHOOOOO!!! We kicked it off with Jaliyahs FIRST Pumpkin carving..kinda of...She did a whole lot of this..

I would stick her hand in the pumpkin, she'd look at me, sloooowwwwlllyy pull her hand out and look at it, look back at me, and not move until I wiped her hand off - what a priss! It was funny, so I had to amuse myself and stuck some seeds to her..

And that was that :)
Just so you momma's know - I have some fun and exciting reviews/giveaways coming in the next few weeks - so keep your eyes peeled!

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON KICK-OFF!