Privacy...

Long before Elizabeth was born, Ben and I had several discussions on displaying photos of Elizabeth online.  We both go back and forth on what is an appropriate amount to share, while having most of our family and friends living in other states and asking for updates.  It's a problem our parents did not have- the technology and resources to provide constant updates, while protecting the privacy of our family and our child.  

With that being said (or typed), most of the blogs I read are about the children of the person's blog I am reading.  I thoroughly enjoy learning what other mothers are going through, experiences they are having with their children, and responsibilities/joys/problems/and fun that come from being a parent.  However, what is good for one family is not necessarily what is good for our family (or any other family). 

Technology is a tricky slope and one I am treading lightly when it comes to publishing information about Elizabeth.  She does not have a voice to stand up for herself and it is my responsibility to make the best decisions possible on her behalf.

Now... this doesn't mean that I will never post pictures or information about her on my blog... because I do have the most fabulous daughter ever!  But I am more likely to send out personal e-mails with photos or place them on Facebook where I can control who sees them. 

I don't want to privatize my blog because I know I have more readers than the 3 people who "follow" me publicly and my blog was created to be open and shared with whomever wants to read it.  I just want to have a little more "control" over who sees information about Elizabeth.

Musings of a new mom

So I have officially been a mom for 8 days and about 8.5 hours.  However, I feel like I've been a mom since I found out I was pregnant.  Because that is when the worrying began.  I wanted to make sure I was eating and drinking the right things, taking the right vitamins, and not doing anything that could hurt my little baby.  Now as an "official mom" I have been making sure I am eating and drinking the right things, taking the right vitamins, and not doing anything that could hurt my little baby.  :)

I have discovered the sound of a baby crying does not remind me of nails on a chalk board, it's more like being behind the slowest driver in the world and you are in hurry up mode.

Newborn clothes (and diapers) don't necessarily mean ALL newborns. 

My daughter has blue eyes, I completed my punnet square and it was 25% possible (yay for the near impossible!)  However, I know eye color can change but I hope hers does not.

Elizabeth sleeps 5-6 hours at night, wakes up to eat, and then sleeps another 4-5 hours.  I can handle that.

My daughter makes these noises that make her sound like a baby dinosaur.  I'm assuming that is what baby dinosaurs sound like since I've never heard a real one.

Everyone has asked if Elizabeth Grace is named after someone.  Nope, it is just the name we liked and couldn't find one we liked more.  We have since learned that we have many relatives with the names Elizabeth and Grace. 

I have no doubt whatsoever that my daughter... is fabulous!



Have a great week!

Elizabeth Grace Novak!

Our daughter, Elizabeth Grace, was born this past Saturday, February 18th, at 2:27am via c-section.
She weighs 9 pounds and 14 ounces and is 22.25 inches long.

Ben took a lot of pictures and we wanted to share a few with our friends and family.

In labor and delivery, waiting for baby girl

Ben and Elizabeth in the OR after she was born

Elizabeth's stats

9 pounds, 14 ounces

My mom and Elizabeth

Elizabeth's cookies that I had made for guests.

Half say "Elizabeth" and the other half say "eNg"

Ben's parents and his brother and Elizabeth

Happy Grandparents

Happy Uncle Adam!

All the grandparents with Elizabeth

My cousin Jessica came for a visit with Elizabeth

My friends Pari and Quin came to visit.

Pari and Elizabeth having a good time

Elizabeth and her daddy

Proud Uncle Andy!

Andy loved her little fingers

Yummy cookies

Elizabeth Grace Novak cookies and onsie

Our friend, Anuja, came to visit Elizabeth

Time to go home!

First car trip.

Ladies' Lunch...

Today I joined some of my favorite ladies for lunch at Chili's.  It was a nice ladies' lunch before baby girl gets here tomorrow. 

Thanks Kelly, Pari, Ann, and Sukhdeep for a great afternoon!

Super Doubles!!!

I went to Harris Teeter today for Super Doubles!

I bought:

2 boxes of Cheerios

2 boxes of Bounce Dryer Sheets

2 bags of Hefty freezer bags

6 yogurts

1 Yoplait Smoothie

2 V8 Splash

1 box of Texas Toast Knots

1 package of Smithfield Bacon

1 package of Johnsonville Chicken Sausage

Original total: $63.52

Total spent: $26.54

Total saved: $36.98

40 weeks

I am 40 weeks pregnant.

Baby girl is 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

I am due today.

I am scheduled to be induced next Friday, the 17th.

Weight gain so far: 30 pounds

4 years

Four years ago today, Ben took me on our first date.

Happy anniversary honey, I love you!



Thrifty Thursday

It's been awhile since I did Sunday Savings and since I went coupon shopping today, I thought I would post a "Thirfty Thursday".  I went to Harris Teeter and CVS today to pick up a couple of things before the baby gets here.

At Harris Teeter they are running a "meal deal" this week-
For $5.99 you get:
(1) 12 oz. Johnsonville breakfast links
(1) Dozen Harris Teeter large white eggs
(1) 12oz Grands Flaky biscuits
(1) 59oz. Tropicana Orange Juice

I bought two meal deals because it is such a great deal!

Normal Price for:

(1) 12 oz. Johnsonville breakfast links - $4.29

(1) Dozen Harris Teeter large white eggs - $2.69

(1) 12oz Grands Flaky biscuits - $2.19

(1) 59oz. Tropicana Orange Juice - $3.65

Normal Total: $12.82

Price paid: $5.99 (x2) = $11.98

So basically, I got all the breakfast goodies for BOGO!

At CVS, they are running the gift card promotion again-
In order to spend the $30 to get the $10 gift card, I bought toilet paper and tissues this week.

I bought:
(2) 20 packs of Scott bathroom tissue
(1) Kleenex tissues 3 pack

Normal price for:

(2) 20 packs of Scott bathroom tissue - $18.99 (x2)

(1) Kleenex tissues 3 pack - $5.97

Sale price for:
(2) 20 packs of Scott bathroom tissue - $14 (x2)

(1) Kleenex tissues 3 pack - $3

Normal total: $43.95

Price paid: $31.00 (before coupons)

I also had $6.50 in coupons

So I paid- $24.50 and got $10 back in a CVS gift card

Favorite things

I realized the other day that I use the same things over and over again and that is because they have become (or continue to be) my favorite things.

Every single day for the last 16 years I have applied Clinique's dramatically different moisturizing lotion to my face.  I absolutely LOVE the way my skin feels after I put it on and I absolutely cannot stand the way my skin feels in the morning until I have put it on.  This winter I feel like my skin has been extra dry (probably because I'm pregnant) and so I have been using this moisturizer twice a day.  I. LOVE. IT.

For Christmas, my mom got me a Clinique product that I had never used before (and never heard of before).  Which is kinda crazy because I am a Clinique girl through and through.  Anyway- she bought me this fabulous hand and cuticle cream.  It has become a new favorite of mine and I use it throughout the day (pretty much any time after I wash my hands).  Again, because of dry skin.  If your hands get dry during the winter- you must try this product!  It is fabulous!!!

Throughout my pregnancy, I have not had many cravings.  However, I have had a ton of food aversions.  I still cannot stand red meat, hummus, or most vegetables.  For about 2 months all I wanted to eat was Corn Flakes.  However, my new favorite cereal has become Fruit Loops!  I eat a huge bowl every morning for breakfast with a tall glass of water.  I can't explain why but all I want in the morning are some Fruit Loops- they are my new breakfast favorite.  Now, before I was pregnant, I did not eat much cereal.  I ate 2 Special K bars for breakfast every morning once I got to school.  Since getting pregnant, I can't stand the Special K bars.  So... for now (and hopefully not too much longer) Fruit Loops are my favorite!

My last favorite thing is actually something that belongs to Ben.  He got it for Christmas from my mom.  It is the card shuffler.  Now, for anyone that knows Ben and myself, you know that we are addicted to cards, and as of lately, the game Hand and Foot.  This fabulous card shuffler can shuffle up to six decks and keeps the cards in pristine condition because they are not being bent by manually shuffling the cards.  It also speeds up our game play.  For anyone that enjoys playing cards, any cards, I highly recommend getting a card shuffler... it is one of my favorite things!

39 weeks

I am 39 weeks pregnant!

Baby girl is the size of a wintermelon!

She weighs around 8 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

Weight gain: 30 pounds

Time left: 5 days (or less, I hope!)

Baby shower at Los Tios

A group of us from work went to lunch today at Los Tios during teacher work day and I was surprised by my 8th grade team with the most delicious cake and wonderful baby presents for baby girl.  Thank you to everyone that came out to lunch and celebrated.  Baby girl, Ben, and I are so blessed to have wonderful friends and co-workers that continue to think of us during this time.

Everyone enjoying lunch at Los Tios.

What a great GW2 staff!

The wonderful cake.  It was soooo good, I had another piece for dinner.

Opening the fabulous baby gift. 

(notice the precision, maybe I should be a surgeon?)

Thank you again everyone for a wonderful day!

Because I love you

Ben,

I love you more today than yesterday.

I will love you more tomorrow than today.

I have loved every moment of this journey we have shared together and I look forward to the next chapter in our lives.

Our lives are about to change forever, so I wanted to reshare a few moments with you (and the internet) of times our lives have already changed for the better.

Our first date.

The "night" you proposed.

Our wedding date.

Ben, I love you.

Thank you for this wonderful life.