BBQ fest, toothbrush, and zoo, oh my!

I always love the month of May because of all the fun things that go on. I think Memphis needs to take the whole month off. Sound good?

 

The weekend after Mother's Day is BBQ Fest. My cousin Brett is on a team so we decided to go pay him a visit so he could finally meet Jonah.

 

The Cutest boy EVER!

It was so very hot. Jonah's teeth just broke through and he was proudly showing them off.

 

On our way into the park.

 

So....it was super hot outside and I was/am still nursing J. I thought there would be some shade in a secluded spot. I somehow lost my mind. I am terrified of public nursing, even with a nursing cover. What a way to face my fear. It was hot and the boy needed to eat. I kindly talked to someone about going on the other side of the park and found a tree. I was off the beaten path and Kyle was my lookout. I've nursed at a park before..I think my fear is more nursing while inside a public place. Has not happened yet. Still can't do it!

 

Finally J got some milk and cooled down!

We had a great time catching up with my cousin. Next year, I will be attending BBQ fest at night when it is not 95 degrees. It.Was.HOT.

 

We came home and got ready for bed. Since J has 2 teeth, we get to brush them.

He wasn't quite sure about it. But now he loves it!

The next day we went to the zoo. My work had a family day so we went.

 

It ended up being the same time as the Grizz playoff game. Oh well, they lost anyways so it didn't matter. But J was supportive!

 

Family picture at the zoo.

I nursed J again in public...but was outside. I know people get all weird about it. I'm fine with nursing him but I know that everyone still doesn't get it. Stupid, but it's true. Bonus-it is nice not having to bring bottles!

My work friends and our babies!

It was hot again. Too hot. We had a good time minus the parking ticket I got...long story and I'm still not over it. Lets just say I don't want to go do this event again. Not very organized. But I will hit up the zoo when it's cooler.

 

my 1st mother's day

We traveled to Starkville the Friday night before Mother's Day to meet up with my in-laws who came up on Saturday and brought Mimi.

the 4 generation picture.

 

He loves his Mimi. She loves him too.

Nana and Pops getting some play time in!

 

I love this boy!

 

We came home that night. Then Sunday morning we went to my parents church.

Granny loves to show off J.

 

My bundle of joy!

You can't take enough pictures!

Granddaddy, Granny, and Jonah

Our family

 

I came home and took Jonah for a run and stopped by the swings! He loved it!

 

 

We all had to take pictures!

 

My parents came down to our house that night to go out to eat for Mother's Day.

 

We used our seat over and it was a hit. It is a must have. You get hook toys to it and keep germs away.

 

Happy Mother's Day.

It was a very busy weekend but we got to see everyone. So very thankful for my family.

fair on the square

The 1st weekend in May Kyle went out of town to move his parents. They upgraded to a 3 bedroom game house in Starkville. They had to make room for Jonah!!!

 

Meanwhile, Jonah and I went to Fair on the Square in Collierville. They had a lot of arts & crafts, music, and shopping.

 

Steph and Eli came!

 

 When I woke up that morning, it was 38 degrees. CRAZY for the 1st weekend in May! I picked Kristy up and she helped me with Jonah. He loved hanging out with her!

 

Keke and her babies!

 

It is getting easier to travel with J. I want him be used to being out and about.

 

 

food for finance: i'm smarter than my smart phone

(healthy) food for finance is a column where we talk about how fitness and finance correlate with each other. join us on our journey to be both physically and financially fit.

 

The people who are close to me know that I was totally against getting a smart phone. There was no way I was going to pay that much money a month. Especially since Kyle and I are trying to save to buy a car with cash and pay off our house.

 

No WAY!

 

Until I found out about Clark Howard from a friend at work. He is a guy who has a radio show about how to live frugal. A man after my own heart.

 

We were paying about $100 a month for Kyle and my "dumb" phone as I like to call it. We had 700 minutes together, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, unlimited text messaging, and stuck in a contract. That was with the 22% discount I get from work.

 

 

Lets rewind to the beginning of the year. Kyle started a new job and was given an iPhone as a work phone. We decided to cut his personal line since his contract was up. It was a pain to let everyone know about his new number but worth it to only pay for my phone.

 

Now one of us had a smart phone....and was not even paying for it! The only way to do it! FREE!

 

Now with only my line open, I was paying $70 a month. All for a stupid dumb phone. SERIOUSLY?!

 

 

Back to the beginning of the year. I came back to work from maternity leave and in my office was my new co-worker. She is like me because she is a Dave Ramsey follower! She is as passionate as me about getting out of debt! How do we get any work done?!

 

I asked her how is she drinking the Dave Ramsey Kool-aid AND have an iPhone. It made no sense to me.

 

Enter Clark Howard...

 

He suggests StraightTalk for a cell phone provider. Get this....I have unlimited minutes to anyone in the States, unlimited text, unlimited Internet, no contract. for only...

 

wait for it....

 

$45 a month!!!!

 

GET OUT!!!

 

YES!!

 

I also kept my old number. What is the catch? You have to get your own phone. I bought a used iPhone 3, bought a sim card, hooked it up, then BAM! Service! There was some hoops I had to go through but it works great.

 

If anyone wants to sell me their old iPhone 4, let me know. I would love an upgrade.

 

I figured if I did not like it, I could cancel and go back to my old provider since I'm not in a contract.

 

Good news about StraightTalk is that they use AT&T and Verizon towers. Win/Win!

 

I've had the service since February and I have had zero problems, even with traveling. I refill my "card" each month. This is a pay-as-you-go service. I have it automatically refilled each month.

 

I was paying $70 a month for a dumb phone to a company that I had been with since 1997. I had to even pay a little money to get out of my contract. Now I pay $45 a month ($48 with tax) for a smart phone! Where is the loyalty?!

 

We only pay $28 a month for both of our phones. How is that? Kyle's work pays for his. I get reimbursed $20 a month for my phone from work. 48-20=$28 a month. For 2 iPhone plans. SCORE!

 

I highly recommend it!

 

 



Jonah 7 months

On May 1st, it happened...J is 7 months old. He is closer to a one year old than little baby.

 

 

Ahhhh! Being a mom is so much fun and exhausting at the same time. So much happened this month! Here is hoping I can catch up the blog!

april recap-the life of a 6 month old

Jonah turned 26 weeks old on his 6 month birthday on April 1.

 

I am proud of myself for keeping up with the weekly pictures!

 

This seems to be the look he always give me. "Really mom, ANOTHER picture!"

 

A lot of times the pictures happen before bedtime and he is out of it.

 

BYOB-bring your own bottle (or in my breastfeeding case...BOYBoob!)

 

 

There is that look again! There were 5 Mondays in April. 

6 month findings:

He still loves bath time! Loves to splash and kick!

 

 

 

Our 1st run as a family.



1st really good bed head picture.

 





Loves it when Granny keeps him. Granny keeps him 2 days a week, my friend Randi keeps him 2 days a week and I'm home on Fridays!

 

He started solids this month.

We only do a little bit since most of his nutrition still comes from breast milk.

 

 

He started to get on all 4s

 

1st road trip (besides Mississippi) & hotel stay

1st BBQ contest

He started imitating (ugh, ahhhh)

 

Nap time is still not the best.

 

Love watching him learn new things!

 



ohio state university gender reveal, DMB show, and more!

The last weekend in April was a time for celebration. My friends Jen and Leon are expecting in September. I am beyond excited for them. Also I am having flashbacks of my pregnancy last year since we basically had/have the same due date, just a year apart! I feel what you are going through Jen!

 

My friend Kristy that did my reveal cake and Steph's reveal had yet another great idea. Since my friends are from Ohio and are BIG OSU fans, she had this idea.

 

Buck-guy or a Buck-girl?

 

 She even made this crafty sign

 

 

The future parents!

 

Here is Steph's reveal, and then mine. Look at our cuties!

 

 

 It's a....

 

 Buck GIRL! Look, I even made these Buckeyes! They were yummy!

 

April married a twin. This is what she would look like if she carried on the twin theme! ha! Looks as if Eli (almost 5 months) has caught up to Jonah (almost 7 months)!

 

 Our boys playing!

 

Best buds! Only 2 months apart

 

Later we went to the Dave Mathews show. The weather was perfect.

 

At the show with our friends.

 

 

 Meanwhile at the house.... Shelly, Adam, and Kristy kept Jonah. They said he was great.

 

 Then on Sunday, we went to visit my aunts.

Uncle Jake and Aunt Connie getting some Jonah time!

 

We had a very busy weekend, but that is always how April is.