Wednesday, September 24, 2014

#thelinkhomeeveryday {week 38}

{Day 260}
Couponing thrills!!

{Day 261}
Playing some Go Fish with Nonnie!


{Day 262}
Birthday lunch at Grimaldi's with my boys!

{Day 263}
Marriage conference at church by Gary Thomas.

{Day 264}
Matt's favorite dessert…….chocolate cherry brownies!

{Day 265}
Both kids screaming because they don't like their breakfast. Can we start this day over?
{Day 266}
Me and my baby boy!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

#thelinkhomeeveryday {week 37}

{Day 253}
Nash doesn't know what to think when Pearson is actually sweet to him! 

{Day 254}
My little buddy had got a little cold so he got to watch Praise Baby for the first time!!

{Day 255}
I love September 13th because it's the day most of my birthday freebie coupons come!!


{Day 256}
Cashed in our free birthday burgers at Red Robin tonight!

{Day 257}
I can't imagine spending my days anywhere else than with these two!

{Day 258}
Prunes look a whole lot like chocolate pudding!

{Day 259}
Daddy got some special visitors at work today!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

pearson {3 years 3 months}

This whole month was kind of a blur because we are really struggling majorly in the behavior department.  A lot of it, I feel like, is because I am majorly lacking sleep with Nash not sleeping at all.  I'm having trouble being consistent in disciplining and that not helping at all.  You are so strong-willed right now and know exactly what you want.  If it's not the same and what we want, we get a major fit.   While you keep us laughing most everyday, we have quite a few not so funny moments this month as well.  All of the sudden you have decided to hate going to church.  You scream when we drop you off, (you always calm down shortly after) and when we pick you up you have gotten in trouble for something.  That is so not like you.  We had to introduce "Sass Spray" or sometimes we call it "Disobey Spray".  It's part water & part apple cider vinegar.  If you are disobedient you get a spray in your mouth.  You hate it.  Most of time, just the threat of it is enough to made you change your ways.  I wish I would have taken better notes of some of the funny things you did or said this month, but this is really all I can write about.  This too shall pass!!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

#thelinkhomeeveryday {week 36}

{Day 246}
Let the birthday freebies begin!
{Day 247}
My little helper in the kitchen.
{Day 248}
I hate doing dishes so much that I leave them in the sink all day so I only have to do them once at the end of the day.  
{Day 249}
September birthday celebration at Babe's!

{Day 250}
This not-so-little chunk is 7 months old!!

{Day 251}
It's cleaning day over here while big bro is at school.  
{Day 252}
Dinner in the car on Wednesday night has become our new normal to get to Preschool Praisers on time!

Monday, September 08, 2014

meal planning monday

Monday: Sandwiches

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: BOGO Raising Cane's to go

Thursday: Me: Meeting @ Church Boys: Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

Friday: Cranberry Chicken, Swiss Potatoes, Zucchini, & Crescents 

Saturday Breakfast: Chiloso Breakfast Tacos (then flu clinic)

Saturday Lunch: Chili Cheese Dogs & Chips

Saturday Dinner: ???

Sunday Lunch: Sierra Turkey Sandwiches, Chips & Fruit

Sunday Dinner: Red Robin Birthday Burgers

Sunday, September 07, 2014

nash {7 months}

This post is long over due.  I have had the pictures taken since he turned 7 months on September 7th, but I am sadly just now getting around to posting all the details. Sorry 2nd child!! If you would sleep better, maybe Mommy wouldn't be so tired!!
Dear Sweet Nash-
Oh little buddy, this hasn't been our best month.  My little baby that slept all the time is officially gone.  While your sleeping has been terrible this month, thankfully you are still the sweetest, smiliest, happy baby ever.  You are such a go with the flow kinda baby and will just be on whatever schedule I need you to be on during the day.  We love you sweet boy, even if you don't sleep through the night anymore!!
Sleeping: 
Ugh, we are still struggling in the sleep department.  I should have never complained about a 6:30 wake up time because for most of this month you woke up during the 5:00 plus woke up at least once during the night.  I really think your bad sleeping is because you are teething.  You tooth finally popped through towards the end of the month and now we have had a semi decent week of sleep.  You are still waking up at 6am on the dot but at least you aren't waking up in the middle of the night.  Most nights when you do wake up I am having to feed you, and that is just ridiculous because you definitely don't need the extra calories.  After the first two weeks of terrible sleep I decided to go ahead and quit swaddling you.  You were waking up in the night busted out and then could fall back asleep on your back.  I am breaking all the rules and let you sleep on your tummy even though you can roll both ways.   Naptimes have also been a nightmare this month.  I have no idea when nap time should be because you wake up at different times each days and sometimes even fall back asleep in our bed after I nurse you first thing in the morning.  Sadly, you have also started taking the dreaded 45 minute naps.  I just can't seem to get you over that hump.  Overall it's just been a terrible month of sleep and this mama is just plum tired.  I am still rocking you for bedtime and both naps, but that is going to have to stop next month.  We are about to do some major sleep training and crying it out. 
Eating:
This month I was really trying to get you on a 4 hour nursing schedule but with your waking up so early we are really still nursing 5 times a day (sometimes 6 if you wake up in the night.) A typical day is usually 5:00, 8:30, 12:00, 3:00, 7:00. You get a bottle of breastmilk at least once a week when Daddy keeps you or on Wednesday nights at church.  We introduced a lot of foods this month and we haven't really found anything you don't like.  We introduced a new food every other day or every few days just to make sure you didn't have any reactions.  You have had bananas, apples, prunes, pears, mangos, peaches, squash, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, and carrots.  I think your favorites are mangos and squash.  With Pearson I slowly moved to 3 meals a day but since I'm already feeding Pearson 3 times a day I go ahead and feed you 3 times too.  It's just smaller portions.  I usually give you a little oatmeal and half of a fruit for breakfast,  a half of a veggie and the leftover fruit for lunch, then a veggie and a little rice cereal for dinner.
New Tricks/Activities/Accomplishments: 
You are an official sitter.  Right before you turned 7 months you started sitting really well.  I still put a pillow behind you because you tump over every now and then.  You are totally capable of rolling over from your tummy to your back, you just rarely do it.  You are happy doing tummy time so you just stay on your tummy.  You are starting to babble lots of sweet little sounds.  No real consonants, mainly just high pitched screeching! You are so close to being able to put your paci in your mouth.  Smiling at everyone is one of your favorite things to do.  You also love to giggle at big brother.
Likes:
You love your paci, your teething toys, the Johnny Jumper, the Jumperoo, and laughing at your big brother.  You love eating, playing with your hanging toy in your carseat, when we throw you in the air, and being rocked to sleep.  
Dislikes:
Sleeping (again this month), when brother knocks you down, when we lay you on the changing table, 
Other Random Facts:
  • You first tooth came in on the bottom and it is sharp!
  • Solids changed your pooping! Thanks the Lord.  TMI….but it instantly made it more solid and no more blow outs!!
  • You don't sleep in the nursery at church anymore but the teachers always say that you are so sweet. 
  • You started sitting in a high chair when we go out to eat and you do great! 
  • You are sooooooo heavy.  You clothes really hide a lot of your chunkiness.  You have rolls under rolls under rolls.  
  • Honestly, I have been so tired this month from our lack of sleep that I didn't jot down many notes of what went on this month.  Hopefully next month will have more info!!

6 month Stats
Weight: 20ish pounds
Length: ??
Head Circumference: ??
Eating: nursing exclusively around 5:00, 8:30, 12:00, 3:00, 7:00 and eating 3 meals a day around 7, 11 and 6.
Bedtime: around 7:30pm
Awake: in the 5:00 hour but totally unpredictable
Naps: 2 45min-1hr naps (who knows when..it's different every day)
Diapers: size 3 
Clothes: 12 month hand-me downs 

 Here is Pearson at 7 months and Nash at 7 months.

Look how you have changed!!

Friday, September 05, 2014

a quick and easy lunch

**Disclosure: I have partnered with Hormel and their Pizza Ready Blogger Program.  I was provided samples of these products in exchange for a review.  All opinions are my own though!!

When it comes to lunch at The Link Home, I like something quick and easy!!  When Hormel sent me their new line of ready made pizza ingredients I knew these would be the perfect lunch for me and my little man.  

These flatbreads make for a perfect little individual sized pizza.  Pearson was so excited to have a whole pizza to himself.  
There are four choices of ready made sauces, supreme, mini pepperoni, italian sausage, and three meat (not pictured). 
Product Description:
With Hormel Pizza Ready you can create convenient pizzas that start with a delicious flatbread and can be further personalized to everyone's individual taste.  Hormel Pizza Ready offers several meat sauces to choose from, including Mini Pepperoni, Three Meats, Italian Sausage and Supreme.  Hormel Pizza Ready makes it fun and easy for the whole family to come together and create a custom made pizza.

 I love that these pizzas are a perfect way for Pearson to help out in the kitchen.  
 He was so proud of his pizza masterpiece.  
 The best part about these little pizzas is that they only take about 5 minutes to cook.  Pearson ate every last bite of his pizza so I guarantee these will be on our lunch menu rotation from here on out!!
If you would like to try Hormel's new Pizza Ready products you can check them out at these local Albertson's.  

Garland, TX
5710 Broadway Blvd.

Murphy, TX
200 East FM 544

Plano, TX
1301 Custer Road

Rowlett, TX 
8505 Lakeview Pkwy

Wylie, TX 
921 Westgate Way

Wednesday, September 03, 2014

#thelinkhomeeveryday2014 {week 35}

{Day 239}
Slam Dunk!
{Day 240}
Watermark Tree Fort
{Day 241}
Nash's new normal is waking up before 5am so my new normal is going to bed before 10pm.
{Day 242}
$1.50 Tacos at Chiloso are our favorite!!
{Day 243}
And football season has begun…...
{Day 244}
BBQ for the last day of summer.  School starts tomorrow for Pearson!!
{Day 245}
My hungry boy ate EVERYTHING off his plate. 

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

pearson's 1st day of 3K preschool

Today was Pearson's 1st Day of 3 Year Old Preschool.  
My little goofball was so confused that he was going back to his old school but his teachers weren't going to be Mrs. Elayne and Mrs. Teresa.  
We had such an amazing year at Learning Academy Preschool last year.  We are excited for another year of learning and fun with Mrs. Dawn and Mrs. Beth or as Pearson says, Mr. Dawn and Mr. Beth.  
I asked Pearson what he was excited to do at school and he said, "PLAY"!!
I was a little nervous about drop off today because he has had a hard time transitioning to his new class at church, but you can tell by this picture that he was very excited to be back at school.  
I prayed that he would be able to walk right in and feel like he was at home and let me drop him off with no tears.  God answered my prayers! He wouldn't even hold my hand on the way in.  He was Mr. Independent ready to go to school.  
His teachers helped him find his cubby to put his things away and get his name tag, then he gave me a big hug and kiss and he was off.  
My big boy got right to work on his table activity and just looked at the little boy that was crying like he was crazy! I just love that he feels so at home at his school.  I pray that he has a wonderful year with Mrs. Beth and Mrs. Dawn, that he builds lots of great friendships and learns lots of new things.  
And this post wouldn't be compete without a good ole comparison picture.