My name is Natty...I eat dirt....

I've been feeling pretty bad that Natty and I haven't been able to get out much.  She loves being outside.  I just still feel icky and don't really have that much energy.  So in an attempt to get some fresh air, we go out on the balcony to water Natty's garden.

I turned around to set our watering can down.  Imagine my horror when I turn around to the sound of chocking...just in time to see Natty pull her hand out of her mouth - FULL OF DIRT!  AGH!!!!!

Needless to say, I threw her in the tub and scrubbed her teeth. 

So much for our mini-outting.  =)

Our beautiful Princess - with dirt in her mouth...

Merry Christmas!

This week has really been B-U-S-Y!!!  Despite the way our economy has been, our family has been very blessed to be able to be with friends and family for Christmas.  For Christmas Eve Ever, we got to hang out with some very cool people, The Marleys.  We learned to play this AWESOME game called Jamaica.  Check out it, it's awesome.

For Christmas Eve, we went to service at Harvest, and I was so blessed by it.  Totally different from services the years before, but it was AWESOME!  Then we ventured out to Orange County to spend the evening with Tim's extended family.  Natty seemed to really enjoy herself.  She has several cousins around her age now.  She has really started to become more social and interact with other kids.  She is now in toddlers at chruch, and she is having a blast.  It does help that her uncle does the puppet show. :-P

For Christmas Day, we went to Tim's parents' in the morning, and spent the rest of the day with my family.  Natty sure made out like a bandit.  She was really more interested in the ribbons and bows than the actual gifts.  Tim got a bunch of books and movies, shirt, cologne, and gift to Barnes and Noble (lucky!).  I got a chain (to wear my wedding rings on when my hands get too swollen later on in my pregnancy - I had this problem with Natty, but I didn't noticed until it was too late and I couldn't get my rings off), 2 books I have been wanted to read (Inkdeath and Diary of a Wimpy Kid), 1st season of According to Jim (story of my life - kinda - Tim's a lot nice than Jim), scrapbook set (from my parents), new cookie sheets (with cookie cookbook), bath stuff, a tea cup & teas (Chrissy), Sean got Tim and I a giftcard to Olive Garden (score!) & chocolates, and I got the book Phantom of the Opera.  Here's the best part....

Inside the book are..................

TWO TICKETS TO GO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course I have to wait until Feb. 10th, but hey, I'll  hopefully have the book done by it.  It's really good!  I'll post pictures later on of our various visits.  Hope your Christmas was as blessed as ours!!!

Baby "Incredible!!!!"

Sorry I am a little behind.  It has been SOME weekend!  It all started Friday morning.  I had a dentist appointment at 9 AM because I had been having a toothache.  Turns out I ended up leaving at 12:30, AFTER my root canal.  Didn't feel a thing during the process, but BOY, I sure felt it afterwards. 

After the dentist appointment, Tim and I went to our Hallelujah Festival at our church.  I dressed up Natty has Baby "Incredible."  This was my first attempt at sewing anything beyond buttons.  While I did mess up on the stitch for her logo, it - overall - turned out pretty well!  Here are some pictures from the evening...

Before Hallelujah Night

Natty (doing her "monster" pose) & Mommy at Church

Natty and Cousin James (and Daddy)

"Baby Incredible!!!"

I had class most of Saturday.  My in laws were visiting some friends in the neighborhood, so we invited them over for some pumpkin pie.  We also go to share "this" with them...

"Baby Fanning" will arrive sometime in July.

We are SO excited, and in awe of this miracle God's given us.

If you think about us, please keep our family in your prayers.

So far, I feel great.  I did not get morning sickness until I was about 10 weeks along with Natty.

I have my doctor's appointment, routine bloodwork, and all that fun stuff this week.

Happy Sunday!!!

Great Things Come in Small Packages

It has finally arrived, yes, the beloved Walgreens Rebate Giftcard. Great things do come in small packages. There really weren't THAT many great deals this week, not stuff we necessarily needed or really used. HOWEVER, since I got that nifty little gift card, I went coupon shopping at Wags this afternoon. I ended up purchasing:

• 4 rolls of Bounty
• 4 bags of Ghiradelli chocolates
• 2 things of tape
• Air Wick air freshner kit
• A birthday card (for sister)

These best thing is that I ended up making $1.01!!! And I get a rebate off the air freshner for this month's rebates at Wags. Life is good! I honestly do not know why this gives me such a thrill. I do like being frugal, being responsible with my family's finances. It is important to us that we have money to give back to the Lord, and money to support our family. I am slowly learning little tricks here and there to help us financial. Here are some big ones I've learned, that have worked for me:

• Always go in with a list (I list the sales price by each time, and a C if I have a coupon(s) for it.
• Have into the "Get in, Get out" mentality (Don't go to shop around; even when I do coupon shop, I do my research first. I coupon-shop for specific items).
• You're just headed for trouble if you go into a store with no list, no preparation.
• Don't shop when you're hungry.
• Get ONLY what's on the list (even my husband has to remind me of this one).
• Don't buy just because it's a "good" deal (I really don't pick up extras unless it is free, or VERY close to free).
• Don't be ashamed to ask prices and use coupons.
• Do frequent small trips, as oppose to few LARGE purchases. (I've saved quite a bit making small trips to Wags and CVS, and using the register rewards or CVS Bucks for subsequent purchases).
• Don't be lazy - look for rebates (then be patient waiting for the mail).
• I put rebate moneys back into savings until it's needed.
• Calculate an item's economicality (not sure if I made up that work, but what I mean it, which is cheaper per item - that small bottle of ketcup or the family jumbo size).
• Bigger is not always better (I used to buy TP at Costco, but there just isn't the space, and honestly, I can get TP and paper towels for pretty cheap hitting sales and coupons).
• Outside of dairy, bread, produce, there are FEW items I will buy if it's not on-sale AND I have a coupon for it.
• Self-discipline!

In closing, here's a picture of my little beauty that brought me happiness!

When Satan Attacks

Man, it's no joke that Satan will stop at nothing to ruin the joys the Lord brings us.  So I had mentioned in my earlier blog that Tim has this AWESOME interview tomorrow (hint, hint: please keep praying for him).  Anyhow, well, we certainly were attacked!  I'm driving around in a possessed car that thinks I'm trying to steal it.  I had major work/computer issues. 


Car Story
I'm absolutely cured of EVER washing my car again.  Each time I wash my car, something weird happens.  The last time my windshield cracked from top to bottom.  THIS time I went to start my car, and this weird security light flashed and wouldn't go away.  My car would NOT start.  Apparently, there was a short in the circuit, and the car thought I was trying to steal it, and wouldn't start.  Finally it started, and I made it to work today.

Work
Anything that could go wrong went wrong, as I was trying to type up my IEP, which I HAD to be on the internet for.

Result:

Oh well.  Just one of those weeks when you realize how much you need to be depending on the Lord.  :)  Will keep you guys posted on stuff, as well, as Tim's interview TOMORROW!

Oh, BY THE WAY!!!!  Natty has taken her first 2 steps today!!!!  She is such a big girl now!  :)

Major Urgent Prayer Request!

My fabulous and wonderful husband has an INTERVIEW with the director of our IT department on Tuesday (10/21) at 3:30!!!!!!!! We are SO excited!!!! We have been praying for the perfect job that the Lord has for Tim for months, years (I think). Please pray that everything will go just as the Lord has planned. Pray for Tim to be calm and confident with his answers, and give him wisdom. Please pray for the director interviewing Tim, that he would be receptive. Please also pray that we would all keep our wits about us because we are sure to anticipate Satan attacking. Thanks guys! Happy Friday!!!

Freebie Samples at Walmart

Happy Friday Everybody!!!

Check out these freebie samples from Walmart here!

_________________________

In other news, our sweet princess is fully 11 months!!!

We are so proud of her!

It's the Weekend Again

Yah!  It's the weekend again.  I really do love my job, even though things have been really crazy this past week.  We go off track in 2 weeks.  I received 3 new students in the span of 2 weeks, therefore, I have 2 weeks to hold 3 interims.  It's stressful, but it'll get done.

Other than that, I spent today (yes, a Saturday) in class.  I've sat in #2 of 4 Saturday seminar classes for my Level II credential.  I have to say, this one was a little bit better than the last.  I at least got answers to questions I had regarding the last seminar's work.  Now, I will hopefully get everything turned in correctly in a couple weeks.

Natty has been growing like a weed.  She will turn 1 in just over a month.  I am amazed at the extent of her understanding and vocabulary.  This is just a list of some of the words/things she understands:

• She will clap her hands when asked (don't even need to show her any more).
• Kitty
• Papa
• "Nam" - Thai for "water"
• Noodle
• Uh-oh
• Mom, Dad, Da Da, Ma Ma
• Ni-ni (Night Night)
• Hi
• She gives kisses (to me the most :) )
• She hugs (a lot) - she's such a cuddle bug.
• She stares "intently" at things and points to inviduals in pictures.
• She knows voices (mostly mom and dad).
• She recognizes people in photographs.

Needless to say, I believe we have quite a smart cookie on our hands.  I have never really been one to believe in "GATE" students.  Gifted, mayber, Gate, not so much.  But that's a debate for another time.  All I know is that we have one very smart and special girl on our hands.  I know we intend to foster whatever is that stimulates her brain.  We love her very much and cannot wait to see how she continues to grow.

Another exciting thing about having another weekend is that i am now 2 weeks away from going off track.  I am so glad that our school is still following the year round schedule.  I really covet time I have with Natty.  I rush home each day to be with Tim and her.  It's hard that most of the time I come home to say good bye to Tim, as he leaves for work.  For Natty's sake though, we do it knowing it'll be best for her.

Well, I hope everyone else is doing great.  Will be posting on my weekend deal finds later on.

Job Security and Bible Study

Well, I've still been really struggling with the whole stay home vs. work drama. I am really thankful though. As of yesterday, I received a notice that I am officially tenured. Yes! I cannot get fired! I'll just have to quit myself! Just kidding! With the way our economy is and the way it seems to be headed, it is nice and reassuring to know that I have some sort of job security. It's comforting to know that God continues to provide for us, desprite my complaints. It is also humbling, once I start thinking about it more because I always come to the realization that I am serving my family.

I didn't understand this at first. I had served as a discussion leader for our Women's Bible Study Fellowship at Harvest for 2 years. Part way though the 2nd year was when I found out we were expecting Natty. Needless to say, it wasn't even an option to not stay home with her. I stepped down and left the spot for the Lord to call someone else. While I kinda-sorta miss it, I don't regret my decision. All the other leaders keep encouraging me too, saying, "Your family is your #1 ministry now." I really didn't understand things because I never really viewed family as a 'ministry.' It is so incredibly true though.

In my opinion, it is the MOST important ministry. We are human and we make mistakes, but my family is an area I have tried my hardest to not mess up. I don't want to mess up being a wife to Tim or mother to Natty. If I mess up with my family, I feel like I really don't have anything to show for.

Women's Bible Study started this past Thursday. In a way, I felt a little twinge, missing being up with all the other leaders. I chose to participate in a group and not lead this year. I missed being on the leader's end, being all excited about women in the group I'd meet. BUT, I discovered once I was there that I WAS excited. I was in a new group, and I AM excited about what the Lord is going to show me this year. I know it's going to be lots.

If any of you have the time, I HIGHLY recommend going to Harvest, and following the study. All lessons are archived. You will be truly blessed!